France, Jordan, Egypt foreign ministers call for 'permanent' Gaza ceasefire

1 month ago 65

AS IT HAPPENED

The French, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers called Saturday for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Palestinian militants. This comes as a second vessel carrying aid to war-ravaged Gaza set sail from Cyprus, more than two weeks after the last shipment to the Palestinian enclave arrived by sea. Read our blog to find out how the day's events unfolded.

Issued on: 30/03/2024 - 11:40Modified: 30/03/2024 - 22:37

2 min

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry attends a press conference with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi following a meeting

Summary:

The Palestine Red Crescent said five people were killed and dozens wounded by gunfire and a stampede during an aid delivery Saturday in Gaza, where famine is looming.
Three UN peacekeepers and a translator were wounded in a shell explosion in southern Lebanon Saturday, said the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Israeli military denied striking a vehicle with UNIFIL staff.
The French, Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministers called Saturday for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Palestinian militants.
Israel's military on Saturday said it had struck dozens of targets, including militants and their compounds in central and northern Gaza.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied in London on Saturday, in the latest demonstration in the British capital demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and more aid for the war-ravaged territory.
At least 32,705 Palestinians have been killed and 75,190 wounded since Israel began its offensive on Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. Around 1,140 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks and 250 people taken hostage, according to Israeli figures, with 132 still missing.

Yesterday's key developments:

Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has approved a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks to take place in Doha and Cairo, his office said Friday, days after the negotiations appeared stalled.
The Israeli military said Friday the deputy commander of a Hezbollah military unit was killed in an air strike in south Lebanon's Bazuriyeh, the latest episode of deadly cross-border violence since the Israel-Hamas war began.
The Syrian army says Israeli air strikes early Friday near the northern city of Aleppo have killed at least 36 Syrian soldiers, wounded several people and caused material damage.
At least six fighters in Lebanon's Hezbollah group were also killed in the Israeli strikes, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

About casualty figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry:

Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.

The health ministry does not report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression”.

The ministry also does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Throughout four wars and numerous skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Hamas-run health ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian Red Crescent also use the numbers.

In the aftermath of war, the UN humanitarian office has published final death tolls based on its own research into medical records. The UN's counts have largely been consistent with the Gaza health ministry’s, with small discrepancies.

For more on the Gaza health ministry’s tolls, click here.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

For more on the Gaza health ministry’s tolls, click here.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)