To better understand the latest events in the conflict between the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Israel, 20 minutes takes stock every evening. Between the strong declarations, the diplomatic advances or the dramatic results of the fighting, here are the main points of the day.
News of the day
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday described the bloody attack launched by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7 as an “unspeakable act of terrorism” upon his arrival for a solidarity visit to Israel. “I am in Israel, a nation in mourning. I cry with you and I stand with you against the scourge of terrorism. Today and forever,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding the word “solidarity” in Hebrew.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, most of them civilians, since then, and 203 people have been captured, according to Israeli officials. In retaliation, Israel bombs the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas, where at least 3,478 people have been killed, the majority Palestinian civilians, according to local authorities.
The number of the day
28. This is the number of French nationals who were killed in the war between Hamas and Israel. “France deplores the tragic deaths of new French nationals, which brings the toll of French victims to 28,” declared Anne-Claire Legendre, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She specified that “seven compatriots are still missing”, including some Hamas hostages.
Sentence of the day
It really doesn’t get more cynical than that. »
This is a statement from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who denounced Vladimir Putin’s “cynicism” on Thursday. “I want to say that I am more than outraged when we learn that currently the Russian president is warning everywhere that there could be civilian casualties in armed conflicts,” the German leader said in a statement. speech to members of the Bundestag.
Today’s trend
Humanitarian aid expected by the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will be able to begin transiting through the Rafah crossing, from Egypt, which neighbors the enclave under siege, the authorities announced on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. American and Egyptian presidents.
Joe Biden claimed to have obtained from President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi to “let up to 20 trucks cross” at the Rafah crossing, the only one not controlled by Israel. However, this aid will probably not arrive before Friday due to work to be done on the road, destroyed by Israeli bombing. Even more worrying, it is “not sure” that she will be able to enter Gaza, the WHO warns this Thursday.
“We urge those who can do it to please make this happen to avoid the tragedy that awaits us,” implored Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, on Thursday.