Israel studies Hamas’ ‘positive’ response to truce, continues strikes in Rafah

What you must remember :

■ The Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on Tuesday February 6 that it had submitted its response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators to a truce proposal formulated at the end of January in Paris by American, Qatari and Egyptian officials. According to Cairo and Doha, this answer was “ generally positive ». Israel confirmed having received it and studying it.

■ While the Israeli authorities reaffirm their desire to extend operations to Rafahin southern Gaza, the UN warned that a land invasion on site could “ constitute a war crime “. On the border with Egypt, the town is now home to half of the Palestinian population, who have come to take refuge, notably following Israeli instructions.

■ As the war enters its fifth month on Wednesday February 7, Israel see you again bombed Khan Younes, where according to him leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement are hiding. According to the Israeli army, the leader of Hamas Gaza is actually ” on the run » and goes underground « from hiding to hiding “.

■ US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, February 6in his diplomatic tour in the region, continuing efforts to obtain a humanitarian truce.

■ According to the latest report from the Hamas Ministry of Health, Tuesday February 6, 27 585 people were killed in Gaza since the start of the war on October 7. The majority of the dead are women, adolescents and children. There are 66,978 injured.

Times are given in universal time (UT, i.e. Paris time -1), Click here to refresh.

6:15 a.m.: Saudi Arabia “ It will not be diplomatic relations with Israel ” without“ a Palestinian state »

In response to statements from the White House, Saudi Arabia told the United States on Wednesday February 7 that “ there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is recognized », indicated Saudi diplomacy. She castigated statements from the White House which suggested discussions “ positive » since the start of the war in Gaza with a view to a possible normalization of relations between the Kingdom and Israel.

In response to the words of “ spokesperson for (Advice) national security of the United States (…) the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never changed on the Palestinian issue », Said Saudi diplomacy in a press release.

“ There will be no diplomatic relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is recognized within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. ” and ” aggression » in Gaza will continue, added the Saudi ministry.

Responding to a question during a press briefing in Washington, the spokesperson for the National Security Council of the United States, an entity which depends on the White House, John Kirby, spoke of discussions since the start of the war Israel-Hamas on October 7, regarding a normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and the Hebrew state.

The idea of ​​achieving normalization of relations between the Hebrew state and the Wahhabi kingdom has been under discussion since Israel formalized ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia.

5:50 a.m.: Four months after the start of the war, Israeli unity seems more fragile than ever

The war between Israel and Hamas entered its fourth on Wednesday February 7, and no one has emerged unscathed. Despite apparent cohesion, tensions are resurfacing within Israeli society. Priorities diverge. Some are fighting for the return of the hostages. The others, the extreme right in particular, are fighting for “ reconquest ” : they wish ” recolonize Gaza “.

While more than 27,000 people died in Gaza under Israeli bombs, the Jewish state buried the nearly 1,200 victims of the October 7 attack. And since then, he has doggedly continued his fight to accomplish his first war objective: “ eradicate Hamas “.

Click on the link above to listen to the international report from our permanent special envoy in Jerusalem, Sami Boukhelifa.

5:38 a.m.: The negotiated truce would last six weeks if accepted by the parties, according to a Hamas source

A Palestinian movement source said the three-phase project included a six-week truce during which Israel would have to release 200 to 300 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 35 to 40 hostages held by Hamas, and more humanitarian aid. in Gaza.

5:28 a.m.: [INFOGRAPHIE] Update on the February 6 fighting

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Palestinian fighters are using more sophisticated weapons to attack Israeli forces in areas where Palestinian militias have infiltrated in the northern Gaza Strip. Here is the update on the conflicts from Tuesday February 6.

5:05 a.m. : Hamas sent a response “ overall positive » to the truce proposal, says the Qatari Prime Minister

As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Qatar, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdelrahmane Al-Thani said: optimistic » declared at his side: “ we received a response from Hamas regarding the general framework of the hostage agreement. This answer has a few comments, but is overall positive “.

“ Hamas response was conveyed by Qatari mediator to Mossad (Israeli foreign intelligence services). Details are being scrutinized by officials involved in the negotiations “, said a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas confirmed that it had submitted its response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators but without specifying its content.

► Find our live from February 6 here