Hamas is taking its time. And the answer on the agreement, mediated in Paris for the release of the hostages and the truce, is taking a long time to come while multiple sources, cited by the Arab media, anticipate the possibility of a cloud of smoke. The Islamic faction would like more. Not only with regard to the release of Palestinian prisoners for whom he would not be satisfied with a 3 to 1 exchange for hostages, as envisaged in previous agreements. But above all – it transpires from the first indiscretions reported by Al Arabija and Al Sharq – it would condition his green light to a total ceasefire.
This latter request has always been rejected by Israel with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu reiterating the red lines: «Our efforts to free the hostages proceed incessantly but as I have already said, we will not accept every agreement nor at any price», he reiterated. Netanyahu then confirmed that Israel will not end the war until “Hamas is eliminated, all hostages are returned and Gaza no longer represents a threat to Israel.”
Barring any surprises, the positions would therefore not have become closer on the agreement mediated by the USA, Qatar and Egypt in the French capital, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken is arriving and will be in Jerusalem in the next few hours.
Meanwhile, the death toll is worsening: the Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between dead civilians and militiamen, announced that those killed in the Strip due to Israel's raids have reached 27,365 with 66,630 injured.
Several dozen people demonstrated in London to raise public awareness of the fate of the women still held hostage by Hamas and the unacceptable horror of the sexual violence of which they have been and are victims. According to the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, 17-20 women and girls are still prisoners of the Palestinian Islamist movement after the very violent attack against Israel on 7 October.
On Saturday there was a new incident of spitting on Christians in the Old City in Jerusalem by two Orthodox Jews. This was reported by Wadie Abunassar, spokesperson for the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. Spitting on Nikodemus Schnabel, abbot of the Dormition of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem: after the spitting on Christians there was also pushing and blasphemy
The other Orthodox – according to Abunassar – instead insulted Jesus. The two, including a minor under 17, were stopped by the police. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz “strongly condemned the ugly acts against members of other religions.” Adding that “under the government of the State of Israel, all members of religions will be able to enjoy complete freedom of worship, as never before.”
At least two little girls were killed overnight in an Israeli attack on a kindergarten in Rafah, southern Gaza, where displaced people are taking refuge. This was announced by the Ministry of Health of Gaza, governed by Hamas, as reported by the Palestinian agency Wafa. According to agency sources, the two girls were killed in the attack on a kindergarten at dawn today in the east of Rafah and dozens of other people were injured. Concerns about a potential Israeli ground incursion into the southern border city have grown in recent days, with hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking refuge from the fighting in makeshift camps.
Read also:
– Spitting and insults, the hard life of Christians in Jerusalem
– In war-torn Jerusalem, the difficult conditions for the ceasefire
Biden to Congress: I will order more raids if necessary
US President Joe Biden sent a letter to the US Congress today providing some details on recent raids against Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq and Syria. “Our aim is to discourage these groups from carrying out further attacks”, explained the president, underlining that the operation was conducted in a way “to avoid civilian victims and limit the risk of escalation”. Biden added that he “will order additional raids if necessary.”
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