what to remember from Tuesday, January 30

While Hamas announced that it was “examining” a ceasefire proposal, intense fighting took place in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Towards a new ceasefire? Hamas said on Tuesday, January 30, that it had received a proposed agreement for a truce in the Gaza Strip. On the ground, fighting continues in Khan Younes, in the south of the Palestinian enclave. Franceinfo summarizes what you need to know about the day.

Hamas says it is “examining” the proposed ceasefire agreement

The Palestinian Islamist movement has confirmed that it has received and is in the process of“examine” the proposed ceasefire agreement with Israel in the Gaza Strip, the result of a meeting organized in Paris last weekend between American, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian representatives.

“Very important and productive work has been accomplished”, declared Antony Blinken for his part. According to the head of American diplomacy, “there is real hope for the future”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, affirmed on Tuesday that Israel “would not withdraw the army from the Gaza Strip” and would not release “thousands of terrorists” Palestinians, in exchange for hostages.

Israeli army admits to flooding Hamas tunnels to ‘neutralize the threat’

The Israeli army admitted, Tuesday January 30, to sending “large volumes of water” in tunnels used by Hamas in the Gaza Strip to “neutralize the network threat“, ensuring that it does not compromise access to drinking water for the civilian population. “This capability has been professionally developed, including analysis of soil and pipe characteristics” in the areas concerned to ensure that there is no damage to groundwater, the army announced, referring to a method used only in places where it was “appropriate”.

Intense fighting in Khan Younes

According to the Israeli army, the fighting raged on Tuesday “in the West” of Khan Younes, now largely destroyed and which Israel considers to be a Hamas stronghold. “Important military operations” took place in particular in Khan Younes near the Nasser hospital, the largest in the south of the Gaza Strip, added on the director general of the World Health Organization.

The Palestinian Red Crescent claimed that Israeli tanks parked in the courtyard of its hospital in Khan Yunis, al-Amal, opened fire on Tuesday “on the displaced and the staff”. An Israeli army spokesperson told AFP that he was not aware of any such shots.

UN agency for Palestinian refugees still in crisis

No organization can “replace” the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), accused by Israel, in order to help the population of the Gaza Strip, has warned the UN humanitarian coordinator for the territory. “There is in no way an organization that can replace or substitute for the enormous capacity, the fabric of UNRWA, and their knowledge of the people of Gaza.”declared Sigrid Kaag at UN headquarters.

Twelve countries have suspended funding to the agency, including pSeveral employees are accused by Israel of being involved in Hamas attacks. The Israeli government, for its part, accused UNRWA on Tuesday of being “fundamentally compromised” and let the movement “use its infrastructure” to carry out its military activities and “hiding terrorists”.