what to remember from Saturday June 1st

A “road map” for a ceasefire announced Friday by Washington

These bombings come a few hours after the announcement by the American president of a “roadmap” of Israel with a view to a ceasefire with Palestinian Hamas. According to Joe Biden, this project firstly includes a six-week ceasefire, accompanied by a withdrawal of the Israeli army “from all populated areas of Gaza”, but also the release of certain hostages still held, he explained on Friday. In the second phase, the American president spoke of the cessation “permed” hostilities and the release of all hostages. The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would take place in a third and final phase.

Since Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu has twice repeated the “terms” of a permanent ceasefire: the “destruction” of Hamas, the “release of all hostages” kidnapped during the attack of October 7, and “the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat” to the Israeli state. On Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister also said “delighted” to be invited to speak before the American Congress, and to “tell them the truth about our just war against those who seek to kill us.”

For its part, Hamas said it was in favor of this agreement. “Hamas views positively what was included today [vendredi] in the speech of US President Joe Biden”, announced the Palestinian Islamist movement in a press release.

The international community is increasing calls for a truce

As of Friday, reactions of support for the ceasefire agreement unveiled by Joe Bident have multiplied. UN Secretary-General calls on both parties “to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire”. “We have witnessed too much suffering and destruction in Gaza. It is time to stop”wrote on Antonio Guterres, who hopes for “lasting peace in the Middle East”. The European Union, for its part, welcomed a realistic proposal. “This three-step approach is balanced (…) It now needs the support of all parties,” reacted on the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

On Saturday, the Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators in turn called on Israel and Palestinian Hamas to “finalize” an agreement on the basis of the plan announced by Joe Biden, in a joint press release published in Cairo and Doha.

Emmanuel Macron also supports the proposal for a global agreement

Emmanuel Macron also gave his support to Washington’s initiative. “We support the United States’ proposal for a comprehensive agreement,” wrote the French president on X. “The war in Gaza must end.” The day before, the government had canceled the participation of Israeli arms manufacturers in the Eurosatory defense exhibition, scheduled for June 17 to 21. According to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, “the conditions are no longer met to receive Israeli companies at the French show, in a context where the President of the Republic calls for Israeli operations to cease in Rafah”.

Several rallies in support of Palestinian civilians in France

Numerous rallies in support of the Palestinian people were organized on Saturday afternoon in several cities in France, including Tours, Lille, Lyon and Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d’Armor). In Paris, a procession of support for Palestine took part in the annual demonstration paying tribute to anti-fascist activist Clément Méric, killed in 2013. In total, qSome 22,000 people, according to the police, including a procession in support of the Kanaks, marched through the streets of the capital.