Israel reopens a crossing point to better expel Gazans

Israel confirmed on Wednesday that the Rafah crossing, which has been closed for months, will allow Gazans to leave the enclave for Egypt in the coming days, but with no guarantee of return. This measure is part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement negotiated by Donald Trump in October, which provided for the opening of the terminal in both directions. Departures would be subject to Israeli security approval and supervised by the European Union mission, following the same model as last January.

Cairo immediately denied any coordination on this one-way opening and insists on a two-way crossing, in accordance with the peace plan. For the Egyptian authorities, the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is a red line that cannot be crossed. Fears of forced displacement of the population have been reignited on the Palestinian side, fueled by comments from far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who are in favor of such measures.

For the inhabitants of Gaza, trapped for more than two years in a devastated territory, this announcement represents an unbearable dilemma. Nearly 18,000 patients are awaiting medical evacuation, but many fear that Israel will exploit their exhaustion to push them into permanent exile. The Israeli army maintains control over 54% of the enclave behind an impassable yellow line, where anyone who approaches it risks being shot.

Israel has made the opening of the terminal conditional on the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage still held in Gaza, police officer Ran Gvili. Yesterday, Hamas handed over the body of a Thai citizen, identified today by the Israeli authorities as Sudthisak Rinthalak. Meanwhile, ceasefire violations are on the rise: more than 360 Gazans have been killed since October 10, including civilians in strikes against refugee camps. Le Monde

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IN SHORT
🌍 World • A report by the Gates Foundation predicts that in 2025, 200,000 more children (under the age of 5) will die compared to 2024, the first increase in global infant mortality since 2000. Massive cuts in international aid decided by Washington (Donald Trump having suspended almost all funding) and London explain most of this historic reversal. Vaccination, malaria control, and maternal health programs are severely affected, jeopardizing two decades of progress.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇱🇧 Lebanon • Israel has carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting, according to the army, Hezbollah weapons depots located in the heart of populated areas. The IDF accuses the Shiite movement of rearming in violation of the truce established at the end of 2024, and is bombing in violation of the truce as well. Several villages have been hit and evacuations have been ordered. Beirut denounces violations of the ceasefire.

🇺🇦 Ukraine – 🇺🇸 United States – 🇪🇺 Europe • A confidential transcript obtained by Der Spiegel of a teleconference between European leaders revealed deep mistrust of the US peace plan for Ukraine. 
• Emmanuel Macron: “It is possible that the United States will betray Ukraine on territorial issues without clarifying security guarantees.”
• Friedrich Merz, German Chancellor (to Zelensky): “[...] you must be extremely cautious in the coming days. They [the Americans] are playing with us and with you.” • Alexander Stubb, Finnish President: “We must not leave Ukraine and Volodymyr alone with these guys [the American negotiators].”
• Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, to Stubb: “I agree with you, we must protect Volodymyr.”

🇫🇷 France - 🇨🇳 China - 🇺🇦 Ukraine • During a three-day state visit to Beijing, Emmanuel Macron urged Xi Jinping to play a more active role in ending the war in Ukraine and rebalancing trade relations deemed unfavorable to Europe. The Chinese leader reaffirmed his support for peace efforts but rejected any responsibility for the continuing conflict. Despite persistent disagreements, the two countries are set to sign several economic agreements and have expressed their willingness to intensify cross-investment.

🇺🇸 United States • According to the American press, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the resignation of Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of Southern Command, because of his reservations about the legality of strikes against “narco-boats” in the Caribbean. This dismissal in the midst of a military operation, unprecedented at this level of command, has alarmed politicians and experts, as the strikes have already caused more than 80 deaths and are fueling tensions with Venezuela.

🇺🇸 United States • An internal Pentagon investigation has concluded that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth endangered U.S. troops by sharing classified information related to strikes in Yemen on Signal from a personal phone. The report states that he violated security protocols and recommends better training for senior officials.

🇮🇳 India - 🇷🇺 Russia • New Delhi gave Vladimir Putin a lavish welcome for a bilateral summit, despite pressure from the West. India, determined to preserve its strategic autonomy, continues to buy Russian oil at reduced prices and is strengthening its military cooperation with Moscow. However, this closeness weakens its international image and increases its energy dependence, while US and European sanctions complicate oil flows.

🇺🇸 United States - 🇨🇩 DRC - 🇷🇼 Rwanda • Donald Trump is hosting Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame today to revive a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing war in eastern Congo. Despite this diplomatic show, fighting has intensified on the eve of the signing, and the M23 armed group is consolidating its territorial control. In Kinshasa, critics say the process is out of touch with the realities on the ground and, for now, unable to stop a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of lives in recent weeks.

🇨🇩 DRC - 🇷🇼 Rwanda • RFI was able to consult the series of agreements unifying the political, security, and economic commitments between the DRC and Rwanda. At the heart of the agreement is the transparent reorganization of critical mineral supply chains, the relaunch of energy projects such as Ruzizi III, integrated infrastructure, and increased cooperation on conservation and tourism. Two separate bilateral agreements with Washington complete this framework, focusing on economic prosperity and strategic mining exploration.

🇪🇺 European Union • Federica Mogherini has resigned from the leadership of the College of Europe after being charged this week in an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations of favoritism, fraud, and unfair competition in the awarding of a public contract for diplomatic training. Two other senior officials, Cesare Zegretti and Stefano Sannino, are also implicated. The former head of EU diplomacy, who was questioned for 10 hours by Belgian police, claims to have acted transparently but is stepping down “out of rigor.” The investigation concerns a 2021-2022 tender that may have been rigged in favor of the College of Europe.

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