France joins Belgium and the UK in opposing Israeli
After 120 days of brutal fighting, the Germans are beginning to second-guess their unwavering support of Israel’s war in Gaza. In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz chastised him, describing the Palestinian situation in Gaza as “very worrying” and
stressing the pressing need to expand access to humanitarian aid. Additionally, according to two EU diplomats, Germany, one of Israel’s strongest allies inside the bloc, is now in favor of sanctions against radical Israeli settlers, such as a ban on visas that would prevent travel to Europe, which will be discussed by diplomats on Wednesday. However, the EU is stuck, even though Berlin has joined countries like France, Spain, Ireland, and Belgium that have vigorously pushed for action against violent Israeli extremist settlers in the West Bank. According to two EU diplomats, Hungary and the Czech Republic, both smaller and less significant geopolitically, are continuing to defend Israel’s actions, including their refusal to agree on sanctions against settlers, which will be revisited by diplomats on Wednesday. A request for comment was not answered by representatives of the Czech Republic or
Hungary. Insiders in the Brussels bubble claimed that the war had not only exposed the differences within the bloc but also rendered the EU’s rhetoric regarding a possible peace conference meaningless. particularly in light of the recent announcements made by the US, Israel’s biggest ally, regarding action against extremist violent settlers. An EU diplomat described it as “a disgrace.
” Europe has no place in this conversation. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, is set on fire. Josep Borrell, the EU’s head of foreign policy, is not respected either inside or outside the EU.
Nearly everyday firefights
Colonna called for moderation in meetings with top officials in Beirut on Monday as part of her regional tour, aiming to defuse tensions near the border between Israel and Lebanon. There have been almost daily gunfire exchanges since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. Colonna called for moderation in meetings with top officials in Beirut on Monday as part of her regional tour, aiming to defuse tensions
near the border between Israel and Lebanon. Cross-border gunfire has occurred on the Israeli-Lebanese border since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, primarily between the Israeli army and the militant organisation Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and claims to be acting in support of Hamas.A day after making comparable pleas in meetings with Israeli officials, Colonna met with Nabih Berri, the speaker of the parliament and a significant Hezbollah ally, in Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati,urging responsibility and moderation.”Light must be shed” on the October 13 strike against journalists inLebanon, according to France. Major General Aroldo Lazaro, the commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and France’s top diplomat also spoke about the situation on the ground.”We are trying to continue with our liaison and coordination role… in order to avoid miscalculations, misinterpretations that could be another trigger for escalation,” Lazaro stated to reporters. In Beirut, Lebanon, mourners assemble outside the Al Mayadeen TV channel’s building to pray before the two journalists’ funeral. The journalists are believed to have been killed by an Israeli strike on
Tuesday in southern Lebanon. 22 November 2023. In Beirut, Lebanon, on November 22, 2023, mourners assembled outside the Al Mayadeen TV channel’s building to offer prayers in advance of the two journalists’ funeral. The journalists are believed to have been killed by an Israeli strike on Tuesday in southern Lebanon. ZIZ TAHER – REUTERS.The UN force in south Lebanon is reinforced by 700 troops from France, which has denounced recent attacks on peacekeepers and their facilities. A count by the French news agency AFP shows that since the cross-border exchanges started in October, more than 130 people have died on the Lebanese side, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also a Lebanese soldier and 17 civilians, three of whom were journalists. According to officials, there have been
seven soldiers and four civilians killed on the Israeli side.d, Cross-border gunfire has occurred on the Israeli-Lebanese border, primarily between the Israeli army and the militant organisation Hezbollah,which is backed by Iran and claims to be acting in support of Hamas. A day after making comparable pleas in meetings with Israeli officials, Colonna met with Nabih Berri, the speaker of the parliament and a
significant Hezbollah ally, in Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, urging responsibility and moderation.
US sanctions
For its part, the US announced sanctions against several settlers at the start of December; as a result, they are no longer allowed to set foot on US soil. Since the attacks in Israel on October 7th, when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas killed 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 more, there has been a surge in settlers’ violence. Israel launched a counterattack after the attack that, according to the health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, has killed over 19,400 people so far, the majority of them were women and children. Palestinian health officials claim that since the beginning of the conflict, more than 290 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank.On December 3, 2023, in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, relatives and friends carry the body of
Yazan Akoub, a Palestinian teenager who was shot by Israeli security forces at a checkpoint close to the city. On December 3, 2023, in Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, relatives and friends carry the body of Yazan Akoub, a Palestinian teenager who was shot by Israeli security forces at a checkpoint close to the city. JAAFAR ASHTIYEH – AFP.
700 metric tons of aid
Colonna announced a fresh shipment of 700 tonnes of aid to the Palestinian territory, half of which is scheduled to depart from the French port of Le Havre on Wednesday, as concerns over the humanitarian situation in Hamas-ruled Gaza grow. Reiterating calls for “a ceasefire… as soon as possible,” she told a
news conference that “the other half will depart next week.” According to Colonna,
“that Hamas will not be able to repeat such acts” is the goal of Israel’s “military operations”. Allies put pressure on Israel while Gaza spirals into “Hell on Earth.
” However, she stated that “we have reservations and differences in viewpoints” with Israel. “We ask them to act differently, in a more surgical manner”
. In the meantime, in anticipation of a vote on a new resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Security Council is finding it difficult
to speak with a single voice. On December 8, the United States obstructed the adoption of a resolution advocating for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, despite extraordinary pressure from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. To reach a compromise, a revised text has reportedly been put up, according to diplomatic sources. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed on Monday to continue arming the country’s ally, Israel, to which Washington has already given billions of dollars in military aid, despite the international push for a ceasefire.