what to remember from Monday January 29

Hamas has announced that it wants to negotiate a “complete ceasefire” with Israel in the Gaza Strip before any agreement.

The European Union called on Monday January 29 for an independent audit of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Several countries have already announced that they are suspending their funding to this organization, several employees of which are accused by Israel of being involved in the Hamas attacks of October 7. On the diplomatic front, Hamas, for its part, declared that it wanted to negotiate a “complete ceasefire” with Israel in the Gaza Strip, and not a “temporary truce”prior to any agreement. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to know about the day.

Hamas says it wants a “complete ceasefire” with Israel

Hamas wants to negotiate a “complete ceasefire” with Israel in the Gaza Strip prior to any agreement, a senior official of the Palestinian Islamist movement announced to AFP on Monday January 29. “We are talking above all about a complete and total ceasefire and not a temporary truce”said Taher al-Nounou, a senior Hamas official, after a meeting in Paris this weekend between American, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials to stop the fighting in the Palestinian territory. Once the fighting has stopped, “the rest of the details can be discussed”including the release of the hundred Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

Furthermore, “notable progress” were made this week during talks in Paris, according to the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahmane Al-Thani. The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, for his part mentioned A “real hope” of a possible future release of the hostages.

The European Union calls for an independent audit of the functioning of UNRWA

“We ask them to agree to an audit being carried out by independent experts, chosen by the European Commission”, said the Commission spokesperson, who added that it would decide whether or not to suspend its funding to UNRWA based on the results of the investigation opened by the United Nations. Several states have announced that they are suspending their funding to this organization, essential to the operation of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, called on donors to continue funding UNRWA, so that the agency can “continue to fulfill its functions to ensure the basic needs of the Palestinians and mitigate the effects of the humanitarian crisis.” Riyadh demands “to strengthen examination and investigation procedures” For “establish facts supported by evidence”.

The United States promises retaliation “very significant” after the death of three soldiers in Jordan

The United States announced retaliation on Monday “consequential” after a drone strike in Jordan on Sunday, blamed on pro-Iran groups, which cost the lives of three American soldiers and injured at least 34 people. “But we are not looking for war with Iran” neither “a wider conflict in the Middle East”the White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Monday.

US President Joe Biden accuses “radical fighter groups supported by Iran operating in Syria and Iraq” for having carried out this attack. Tehran, for its part, denies any involvement in the attack which occurred in an already explosive regional context. These first deaths of American soldiers in an attack since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas raise fears of escalation in the region.

At least eight dead in Syria in strike attributed to Israel

Eight people, including pro-Iranian fighters, were killed Monday in an Israeli strike south of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) announced. “Three Israeli missiles targeted a base of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards”the ideological army of the Iranian regime, “in the Sayeda Zeinab district”OSDH director Rami Abdel Rahmane told AFP. Two Syrians, including the bodyguard of a Revolutionary Guard officer, are among the dead, according to this source.