The words are clear. “A large-scale Israeli offensive in Rafah would create a catastrophic humanitarian situation of a new dimension and unjustifiable”fears the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in a press release, Sunday February 11. “France expresses its deepest concern after the Israeli strikes in Rafah”the city in the south of the Gaza Strip where more than 1.3 million Palestinians who fled the fighting are refugees and on which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to launch an offensive. Paris “opposes any forced displacement of populations” and demands that Israel take “concrete measures to protect the lives of civilian populations in Gaza”. Follow our live stream.
Any Israeli operation in Rafah would “threaten” hostage negotiations, Hamas warns.
An offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah, “would threaten” negotiations for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, warned a Hamas official cited by AFP.
An Israeli operation planned in Rafah. “Victory is within reach. (…) We will catch the last terrorist battalions of Hamas in Rafah, which is the last bastion,” declares Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with ABC News channel extracts of which were revealed on Saturday evening. He assures that the Israeli army will offer “a secure passage for the civilian population so that they can leave”without explaining where she could go.
A tunnel under the UNRWA headquarters. The Israeli army and internal security agency said on Saturday they had discovered a Hamas tunnel under the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City. The organization, which Israel accuses of being “totally infiltrated” by the Islamist movement, responded that the building had been evacuated on October 12. “We are not aware of any activity that may have taken place there.” since then wrote on its leader, Philippe Lazzarini, adding that Israel’s accusations “deserve an independent investigation.”