Two weeks after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Western leaders spoke. The United States and Israel promised, this Sunday, October 22, a “continuous flow of aid” to Gaza while President Emmanuel Macron will go to Tel Aviv this Tuesday to try to negotiate a de-escalation.
Macron will visit Israel
French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Tel Aviv this Tuesday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Elysée announced on Sunday. Among the subjects of this meeting: the “security of Israel”, the “fight against terrorist groups”, the non-escalation of the conflict and the resumption of a “political process” towards a two-state solution, Israeli and Palestinian .
The French president also expressed unfailing support for the Israelis, their “right to defend themselves”, but also called for a “targeted” Israeli response against Hamas in Gaza in order to “spare” Palestinian civilians.
Israeli raids against the Gaza Strip
Dozens of Palestinians, including children, were killed in the Gaza Strip this Sunday in intense Israeli raids against this besieged territory, where new aid was delivered on the 16th day of a war triggered by a deadly Hamas attack.
The Pentagon announced a strengthening of its military presence in the region after “escalations by Iran and its affiliated forces”, and its chief Lloyd Austin warned that his country would “not hesitate to act” if its interests were targeted .
Israel accuses Hezbollah of wanting to drag Lebanon into war
The Israeli army on Sunday accused Hezbollah of seeking military escalation at the risk of dragging Lebanon into a war, after new clashes at the border, where tension has been high since the attack launched on October 7 by Hamas Palestinian in Israel.
“Hezbollah is attacking and dragging Lebanon into a war from which it will not benefit, but in which it risks losing a lot,” warned spokesperson Jonathan Conricus, on X (ex-Twitter). The last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 left 1,200 dead on the Lebanese side, mostly civilians, and 160 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.
A “continuous flow” of aid promised to Gaza by the United States and Israel
The Gaza Strip, besieged by the Israeli army, will be able to benefit from a “continuous flow” of aid, announced the United States, which also warned Iran against any widening of the conflict triggered by the the deadly attack by the Islamist movement Hamas against Israel.
On the ground, the Israeli army, which has been preparing since the start of the conflict to launch a ground offensive to “annihilate” Hamas, intensified its strikes against the enclave on Sunday. According to a spokesperson, “dozens” of Hamas fighters were killed.
Western leaders reiterate support for Israel
US President Joe Biden and the leaders of the main Western powers, with whom he spoke, reiterated their support for Israel on Sunday, while calling for respect for international humanitarian law, according to a White House report.
Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the White House said.