what to remember from Tuesday April 9

Hamas has indicated that it is studying a proposed truce in Gaza, statements which have not convinced the United States.

The war continues in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday April 9, and Hamas says it is studying a draft truce agreement. But according to the United States, the declarations of the Palestinian Islamist movement on this truce proposal, associated with a release of hostages in Gaza, are not “not very encouraging”. Humanity and the international community have lost their “moral compass” in Gaza, also deplored the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to remember from this day.

Hamas says it is studying a truce project

Hamas said on Tuesday that it was studying a proposed truce in Gaza accompanied by the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory. Saying “to wish” an agreement, the movement affirmed in a statement that Israel “did not respond to any” of his requests. “Despite this, the leadership of the movement is studying the proposal (…) and will inform the mediators of its response”added Hamas.

But the White House judged the movement’s statements “not very encouraging”even if the mediators are still waiting for a “answer” official from him. “We’ve seen Israel take some steps forward in terms of what it’s putting on the table. And of course, we’ve seen public statements from Hamas that have been, let’s say, not very encouraging.”said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

An offensive on Rafah not “imminent”, judges Washington

On another hot topic, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Tuesday that Israel had not provided the United States with a date for a possible military operation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, while judging that she was not “imminent”. “No, we do not have a date for an operation, at least one that was communicated to us by the Israelis”he declared during a press conference in Washington, alongside his British counterpart David Cameron.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that a date had been set for an offensive on this city which, according to him, is one of the last Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip. Antony Blinken also reported new discussions “next week in Washington” between Israelis and Americans on the situation in Rafah. “I don’t expect any action to be taken before these talks”underlined the American Secretary of State.

UN accuses Israel of obstructing food distribution

The UN said on Tuesday that Israel hindered food distributions in the Gaza Strip more than any other form of humanitarian aid. “Food deliveries coordinated by the UN are far more likely to be obstructed or denied access…than any other humanitarian mission”declared a spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, in Geneva.

This means, he added, citing statistics from March, that “Food convoys expected to go particularly to the north, where 70% of the population faces famine-like conditions, are three times more likely to be turned away than other humanitarian convoys”.

On the social network X, Emmanuel Macron also announced that “the air operation of the day made it possible to transport more than 110 tonnes of freight” including medicines and food, thanks to a partnership with, in particular, Jordan.

David Cameron does not want to suspend arms sales to Israel

The head of British diplomacy David Cameron on Tuesday ruled out any change in the current policy of supplying arms to Israel, despite calls to suspend these sales due to the conflict in Gaza. “I have reviewed the most recent opinions regarding the situation in Gaza and Israel’s conduct of the military campaign,” he said. “This assessment does not change our position on export licenses” arms to Israel, added David Cameron.

The head of the Foreign Office was questioned during a press conference in Washington alongside his American counterpart Antony Blinken. This decision is “in line with the advice that I have received and that other ministers have received”he said again, emphasizing that the British government would continue to “assess” the situation. London has toughened its tone towards Israel after the death, on April 1, of seven humanitarian workers, including three British, killed in Gaza by an Israeli drone while they were delivering food to the Palestinian territory.

Humanity has lost its “moral compass”, deplores UN chief

“What deeply concerns me is that we have lost our moral compass regarding Gaza, as humanity, as an international community”declared Tuesday the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, during a press conference. “We must do something and quickly (…) Thousands of children continue to lose their lives, to live as amputees. And hundreds of people are waiting to return home, the hostages”insisted António Guterres’ deputy, who continues to call for an immediate ceasefire.