► Israel Katz wants to maintain total freedom of action for the army in Gaza
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declared on Tuesday December 17 that he wanted a “total freedom of action” for his country in the Gaza Strip following the ongoing war in this Palestinian territory.
“After eliminating Hamas' military and governmental power in Gaza, Israel will exercise security control over Gaza with complete freedom of action”he wrote on X, specifying that it was a personal position.
Israel Katz explained that the governance of the Gaza Strip should be “just like in Judea and Samaria”the name that Israel gives to the West Bank, Palestinian territory that it has occupied since 1967.
► A complaint filed in France against a Franco-Israeli soldier
A new complaint for torture, war crimes, genocide and complicity against a Franco-Israeli soldier who is the author of a video showing men presented as Palestinian prisoners in degrading conditions has been filed in Paris , announced human rights organizations.
A first simple complaint was filed at the beginning of September by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (Pnat), competent in matters of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Pnat considered that the facts appeared “insufficiently characterized”.
“Our organizations are becoming civil parties to combat the inertia of the prosecution”affirm in their press release the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its Palestinian and French member organizations Al Haq, Al Mezan, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Human Rights League (LDH).
► WHO warns of “appalling” conditions in Gaza hospital
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that a humanitarian team had managed to reach one of the only functioning hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip, and found conditions there “terrible”.
The Kamal Adwan hospital is located in Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip where the Israeli army has been carrying out military operations for several weeks, the objective of which, according to it, is to prevent the regrouping of Hamas fighters.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told X that after several attempts, a team managed to access the site “two days ago, amid hostilities and explosions near the hospital”.
“The conditions in the hospital are simply appalling”he denounced, explaining in particular that “Recent attacks have further damaged oxygen supplies, generators and broken windows and doors of patient rooms”.
► Israeli officials in Doha to discuss ceasefire
Israeli officials have arrived in Doha for talks on a Gaza ceasefire and an exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas, a source close to the talks said.
“Israeli technical team in Doha to discuss ceasefire and Gaza hostage deal”said this source on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, adding that the meetings were taking place “between Israeli and Qatari work teams” and that they aimed to bring together the positions of the different parties.
These discussions follow a visit to Doha last Wednesday by the head of Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence service, David Barnea, according to the same source, but there is no indication that he is participating in the current talks.
