Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin asked prefects to strengthen protection measures for the Jewish community, particularly around schools and places of worship, after the events of recent days in Gaza, according to a note consulted on Saturday by Le
Figaro
.
“Given the high level of the terrorist threat which continues to weigh on our country and the tensions in the Middle East which have experienced a sudden increase in recent days (...) I ask you to please proceed with an immediate strengthening of security measures concerning the sites of the Jewish community"
,
"in particular with regard to schools"
is written in this telegram, dated Friday.
“Presence of security forces around schools”
The minister asks the prefects that
“reinforced vigilance”
be ensured by the police
, “in coordination with the soldiers of Operation Sentinel, by a static, visible and systematic presence at arrival and departure times of the faithful, during gatherings and services
.
It also calls for a
“systematic presence of internal security forces around schools during the entry and exit of students”
.
Darmanin finally calls on the prefects to mobilize
“the intelligence services to assess threats to public order”
and to pay
“particular attention to possible future demonstrations”
.
On Thursday, a distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza turned into tragedy after Israeli fire and a stampede which left 115 dead, according to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
The international community has called for an investigation and an immediate ceasefire in the war triggered by the bloody attack carried out on October 7 in southern Israel by Hamas commandos infiltrated from Gaza.
On Saturday, the Israeli army continued its strikes against the Gaza Strip, which left at least 92 dead in the last twenty-four hours, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health.