Granted immigrants, wounded journalists and hope for a ceasefire

To better understand the latest developments in the conflict between the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas and Israel, 20 minutes Take stock every evening. Between strong announcements, diplomatic breakthroughs or dramatic outcomes of battles, here are the highlights of the day.

Fact of the day

France’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that it had adopted “sanctions” against 28 “extremist Israeli settlers” accused of “violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank”. “France reaffirms its strong condemnation of this unacceptable violence. As we have said on numerous occasions, it is the responsibility of the Israeli authorities to put an end to it and prosecute its perpetrators,” the ministry wrote in a press release.

The 28 individuals are “targeted by an administrative ban from French territory”, added the Quai d’Orsay, which said it was “working” on “adopting sanctions at European level” against violent immigrants. Washington and London have already taken sanctions against “extremist immigrants”, but the European Union, which must decide on them unanimously, has not yet managed to agree on the subject, due to the opposition of countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, according to the diplomat. sources.

Day’s punishment

” All the delegations that have come to Lebanon in the last four months (…) have the same goal: to protect Israel »

The accusation was made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, whose pro-Iranian movement has been carrying out repeated attacks against Israel from Lebanon for several months. The accusation is particularly aimed at France and its foreign minister Stéphane Sejourne. The latter indicated on Monday that he had made “proposals” during his recent visit to Beirut to avoid open conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which it says acts in support of its ally Hamas. According to diplomatic sources, the plan calls for an end to violence on both sides and the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters ten to twelve kilometers north of the border. “Let no one think that Lebanon is weak, that it is afraid, and that it can impose conditions on us,” the Hezbollah leader added in response. The French plan also provides for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 which stipulates that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers will be deployed in southern Lebanon.

Number of days

2. This is the number of journalists seriously injured during an Israeli attack in the Rafah sector south of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Both journalists were working for the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera. Asked by AFP, the Israeli army did not immediately comment.

Ismail Abu Omar’s right leg had been “amputated” and doctors were trying to save the left, the channel announced, while airing images of the journalist surrounded by doctors in the operating theatre, making it clear his life was in danger. In the case of cameraman Ahmed Matar, he is “seriously injured,” Al-Jazeera added.

About 1.3 million Palestinians are currently crammed into Rafah, most of them displaced by raids and fighting in the rest of the region.

attitude

International pressure intensified on Tuesday for a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, including a fresh release of hostages, after Israel announced an upcoming attack on Rafah, the last refuge for more than a million Palestinians south of the Gaza Strip. Egypt, the traditional mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, hosted American and Israeli intelligence directors as well as the Qatari prime minister for talks on a ceasefire on Tuesday. For its part, the UN says it fears “genocide” in the event of an invasion of Rafah.

Our file on the Israel-Hamas war

On Monday evening, US President Joe Biden announced that an agreement to release hostages in Gaza with a pause of “at least six weeks” in hostilities between Israel and Hamas is currently under discussion.

The US president reiterated a warning already issued several times by his administration and indicated that “we must protect” Palestinian civilians in Rafah in the event of an Israeli invasion of the city south of the enclave. For his part, King Abdullah II of Jordan declared on Monday that there “must be an immediate permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.