what to remember from Sunday April 7

The conflict in the Middle East, which erupted with the terrorist attack of October 7, entered its seventh month on Sunday.

After six months of conflict in the Middle East, Israel withdrew its troops on Sunday April 7 from the south of the Gaza Strip, notably from the town of Khan Younes, after months of fierce fighting against Hamas. These fighting caused a humanitarian catastrophe and earned Israel a round of criticism, including from its Western allies. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to remember from this day.

Israeli army announces withdrawal of troops from Khan Yunis

“Today, Sunday, April 7, the 98th Commando Division of the Israeli army completed its mission in Khan Yunis. The division left the Gaza Strip in order (…) to prepare for future operations”, declared the Israeli army in a press release sent to AFP. The army specified that a “significant force” would continue to operate in the small Palestinian territory according to its strategic needs, in the seventh month of a devastating war waged by Israel against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“From what we understand, and from their public announcements, this is actually a period of rest and fitness for these troops who have been on the ground for four months”said John Kirby, a White House spokesperson, on ABC.

As a result of this withdrawal, the Palestinians displaced from Khan Younes, only a part of the displaced, can now theoretically return home after having found refuge in Rafah, further south near the closed border with Egypt. On Sunday, an AFP photographer saw dozens of people leaving Rafah towards Khan Younes, on foot, by car or on carts pulled by donkeys.

Israeli defense minister says army is ‘preparing’ for Rafah operation

Attention is now focused on Rafah where, despite the concern of many foreign capitals, Israel has said it is determined to launch a ground offensive while more than 1.5 million Gazans have found refuge there. “Our forces are preparing to continue their missions (…) in the Rafah area”the city in the far south of the Gaza Strip where more than 1.5 million Gazans have sought refuge, Defense Ministry Yoav Gallant said, according to a statement from his office.

Israel is “one step away from victory”, assures Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel is “one step from victory” in his war against Hamas in Gaza, assured Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, six months to the day after the attack by the Palestinian movement and the start of Israeli military reprisals. “But the price to pay is painful and heartbreaking”declared the Prime Minister to his government’s war cabinet. “There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. It will not happen”he also warned.

Demonstrations for the release of hostages, in Paris and Jerusalem

Some 1,500 people demonstrated in Paris on Sunday, six months after Hamas’ bloody attack on Israel, “for the release of the hostages” Israelis detained in Gaza, AFP learned from the police headquarters. Gathered at the end of the afternoon at the Trocadéro, facing the Eiffel Tower, the demonstrators, gathered at the call of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (Crif), repeatedly chanted “Free the hostages”. Some held signs reading: “Your silence is deafening.”

More than 3,000 kilometers from Paris, there were thousands on Sunday evening in Jerusalem to support the families of captives held in Gaza. Massed in front of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament on holiday for the Jewish Passover holidays, the demonstrators chanted slogans like “Alive and alive and not in coffins” And “All free, now! A deal, now!”

Situation in Gaza ‘more than catastrophic’, say UN agencies and NGOs

United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm at the current situation in Gaza. “Houses, schools, hospitals are in ruins. Teachers, doctors, humanitarian workers are killed. Famine is imminent”lambasted the head of Unicef, Catherine Russell, on

The situation is “more than catastrophic”pointed out Jagan Chapagain, director general of the IFRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “Millions of lives are threatened by hunger”he warned. “A flood of humanitarian aid must absolutely reach those who need it. Not tomorrow, but now.”