The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 66th day on Monday, December 11. The Israeli army has intensified its raids on the Gaza Strip, the scene of violent clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters. The fighting continues in particular in Khan Younes, in the south of the Gaza Strip, where the army is “dismantling Hamas infrastructure”, said army spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Here is what to remember from this new day of war.
An “apocalyptic” situation
The situation in Gaza is “apocalyptic” for the civilian populations, warned the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell on Monday, December 11. “Unfortunately, the level of destruction of buildings in Gaza is more or less, even higher than the destruction suffered by German cities during the Second World War,” he said, following a meeting of ministers of EU Foreign Affairs in Brussels.
France calls to avoid regional conflagration in the Red Sea
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called, Monday, December 11, “to avoid any regional conflagration” in the Red Sea, in the face of the “multiplication of attacks and acts of piracy” in the area. This warning comes after a French frigate shot down two drones coming from northern Yemen, under the control of Houthi rebels, who threaten to disrupt this sea route as part of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. “We condemn all attacks on freedom of navigation,” declared the Quai d’Orsay, saying it was monitoring the situation “very closely”.
France wants to further sanction Hamas
In a letter addressed to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, France, Italy and Germany demand new sanctions against Hamas, considered a terrorist organization according to the EU, the United States and Israel. They propose “the creation of a new sanctions regime”, according to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna.
European countries plead for a truce
European Union countries have asked Brussels to act in favor of a lasting truce in the fighting in Gaza, to put an end to the ongoing “carnage”. “We must immediately call on all parties to declare a lasting humanitarian ceasefire, which could lead to an end to hostilities,” demanded the leaders of Ireland, Spain, Malta and Belgium, on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting in Brussels.
This article is originally published on .francetvinfo.fr
