A third aid convoy entered the Gaza Strip on Monday October 23, while the enclave is shelled and besieged by Israel, noted AFP correspondents on the Egyptian and Palestinian sides of the Rafah crossing. Saturday and Sunday already, “34 trucks had crossed Rafah”an Egyptian Red Crescent official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
These were the first convoys since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7 after an attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on Israeli soil. The UN is calling for at least 100 trucks per day for the 2.4 million Gazans deprived of everything.
The head of European diplomacy is calling for more aid. Josep Borrell, demanded Monday October 23 “more help, faster” for the Gaza Strip, besieged by the Israeli army. He says, personally, that he is in favor of the humanitarian ceasefire called for by UN boss Antonio Guterres. This question must be debated by the foreign ministers of the Twenty-Seven, meeting in Luxembourg.
A second humanitarian convoy sent from Egypt. Seventeen aid trucks passed through the Rafah crossing, the only access to the Gaza Strip that is not controlled by Israel, noted an AFP journalist. “UN humanitarian aid containing only water, food and medical supplies has been delivered to the southern Gaza Strip”confirmed the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Israel announces an intensification of strikes. On the ground, the Israeli army says it has intensified its strikes against the Palestinian enclave. According to a spokesperson, “tens” Hamas fighters were killed. The Gaza Health Ministry said the deadliest raids took place in Deir Al-Balah. Other strikes also targeted Khan Younes and Rafah.
Discussions between Western countries. US President Joe Biden spoke on Sunday with Emmanuel Macron as well as his German, Canadian, British and Italian counterparts. They reiterated their support for Israel, while calling for respect for international humanitarian law, according to a Washington report.
A debate without a vote in the National Assembly. It will begin at 4 p.m. with a statement from Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, followed by speeches by speakers from the groups and the presidents of the Foreign Affairs and European Affairs committees. It takes place the day after a trip to Israel by the President of the Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet.
Emmanuel Macron expected in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The French president will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there, the Elysée announced on Sunday. Thirty French people were killed during the Hamas attack on Israel and seven others are still missing.