European nations and their allied countries can now initiate talks for a truce.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with famine unfolding and urgent action needed to end it, according to signatory countries. This dire situation has led to a flurry of international condemnation and diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict.
On one hand, an international group of personalities, including Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations Secretary-General, has denounced a "genocide" underway in Gaza and Israel's deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid entry into the territory. On the other hand, Israel claims that Hamas is exaggerating the extent of the famine in Gaza as part of a "coordinated campaign."
Amidst this tension, Israel has begun immediate negotiations with Hamas aimed at securing the release of all hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attack and achieving an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced these ceasefire talks following Hamas' agreement to a temporary ceasefire proposal. However, Israel is concurrently continuing its ground offensive in Gaza City and preparing for a large-scale military operation by calling up 60,000 reservists and extending the service of 20,000 others.
Regarding the hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, Israel's government has explicitly linked the ceasefire negotiations to their release, with Netanyahu emphasizing that any resolution must be on Israel’s terms. Despite the talks, many Israeli families of hostages fear that the ongoing offensive could endanger the approximately 20 or so hostages still alive.
Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are working towards a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating that Cairo is actively working to establish the ceasefire. A Hamas delegation is expected to travel to Cairo to meet with Qatari and American mediators.
The Israeli military is urging medics and international organizations in northern Gaza to evacuate south of the strip ahead of the intensified Gaza City operation. The UN-backed groups are considering declaring famine conditions in parts of northern Gaza amid the humanitarian crisis connected to the conflict. There remain significant international calls for Israel to reconsider its offensive given the civilian toll and humanitarian concerns, with leaked data suggesting a high proportion of Palestinian casualties have been civilians.
The situation remains volatile with no finalized ceasefire, and the safety of hostages remains a critical concern. South Sudan, marked by food insecurity and traumatized populations according to the UN, has been mentioned as a potential location for the relocation of Palestinians. Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed any potential involvement of the UN or pressure from countries preparing to recognize Palestine.
Viki Cohen, a mother of an Israeli hostage, stated that an agreement is the only solution and that the world needs to put pressure on Hamas and the Israeli government. Majed al-Hossary, a resident of Zeitoun, stated that the bombing in Gaza is extremely intense, with the ground shaking with every strike, and that there are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the firing hasn't stopped.
Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Israel militarily controls 70 to 75% of the Gaza Strip and plans to demilitarize it, with objectives including disarming Hamas, releasing all hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, exercising predominant security control, and creating a peaceful non-Israeli civilian administration. Benjamin Netanyahu has closed the door on an agreement that would involve the gradual release of a certain number of hostages.
The European Union, along with around 20 other countries, including Canada, has condemned new restrictive requirements for the registration of international NGOs in Israel, which could further exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the suffering of the people of Gaza.
French news outlets have been extensively covering the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza, providing regular updates on the humanitarian crisis, political negotiations, and general news related to the situation. In light of Israel's ground offensive in Gaza City and the urgent need for the release of hostages, various international bodies, such as the European Union, have criticized Israel's new restrictive requirements for the registration of international NGOs, fearing these measures could worsen the already dire situation in Gaza.
