what to remember from Tuesday, June 4

Emmanuel Macron called on Hamas, “whose responsibility is overwhelming”, to accept the ceasefire agreement put on the table by Joe Biden.

Israeli bombings and artillery fire targeted the Gaza Strip from north to south on Tuesday June 4, almost eight months after the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in retaliation for the October 7 attacks. Airstrikes particularly targeted the east and center of Rafah, according to witnesses and a local official. Deadly bombings hit Gaza City in the north and the Palestinian camp of Bureij in the center of the territory. In parallel, powers Western and Arab authorities have urged the Jewish state and the Palestinian Islamist movement to accept the latest ceasefire plan. Here’s what to remember from the day.

Paris calls on Hamas to accept ceasefire agreement

On Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron called Hamas, “whose responsibility is overwhelming”to accept the ceasefire agreement put on the table by his American counterpart, Joe Biden, according to the Elysée. “The hostages, including our two compatriots, must finally be returned to their families. The ordeal of the Palestinians in Gaza must end”he declared during a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The Palestinian Authority, reformed and strengthened” must “ensure the governance of Gaza”and the territory “be an integral part of a future Palestinian state”added the French head of state.

A series of calls to support this plan

Qatar, one of the mediating countries, said on Tuesday it was waiting “a clear position” of Israel, which seemed to distance itself from this ceasefire plan. Doha also stressed that Hamas had not responded.

Denouncing a situation in Gaza “more than catastrophic”the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said on Tuesday that he supported this plan, like the G7 countries the day before. “I urge all parties to immediately reach an agreement to achieve a ceasefire and release the hostages (…) any delay costs lives every day”supported the UN envoy for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, on Tuesday.

Gazans reduced to “drinking sewage”

Gaza residents are reduced to “drink sewage” and eating animal food, denounced Tuesday Hanan Balkhy, regional manager of the World Health Organization (WHO). She called for an immediate increase in humanitarian aid.

Tuesday, the NGO Oxfam also denounced the sanitary conditions “terrible” in the al-Mawasi area, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are refugees. On average, they only have one toilet for 4,000 people.

While “1.7 million inhabitants are now concentrated in less than a fifth of the Gaza Strip”Israeli bombings and blockades “deliberate” “make it practically impossible” access to civilians, “trapped and starving”denounces Oxfam.

The Parliament of Slovenia recognizes the State of Palestine

In Slovenia, Parliament passed a decree recognizing the State of Palestine on Tuesday. The ruling coalition decided to go through the motions and reject an opposition motion. The decree was approved by 52 votes out of 90 seats, the opposition having boycotted the session. This decree comes a week after a similar decision by Spain, Ireland and Norway.