Israel-Gaza war: Deal reached on aid to Gaza, including to hostages
Qatari mediators have disclosed that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to facilitate the entry of additional humanitarian aid into the embattled Gaza Strip.
According to the deal brokered by Qatar and France, medications will be provided to individuals held as hostages by Hamas.
In return, Israel will permit the passage of more essential supplies into Gaza, where conditions have become dire following over three months of sustained Israeli bombardment.
Simultaneously, the United States expresses optimism about ongoing talks that could potentially result in the release of more hostages.
The U.S. Middle East envoy has engaged in discussions in Qatar, exploring the feasibility of such an agreement, as confirmed by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday.
Describing the negotiations as “very serious and intensive,” Kirby expressed hope that positive outcomes would emerge soon.
Earlier, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, announced the aid accord. According to the terms, the humanitarian provisions are scheduled to depart from the Qatari capital, Doha, bound for Egypt on Wednesday.
Subsequently, the aid will be transported to Gaza for distribution among civilians, while the designated medicines are intended for Israeli captives.
It is estimated that over 132 individuals are still being held as hostages in Gaza, with approximately 240 people captured by Hamas in a series of raids in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the loss of around 1,300 lives, primarily civilians.
In a letter sent to Israel’s war cabinet after a ceasefire ended last year, the Hostages Families HQ group said many abductees needed regular medical attention and some were in immediate danger.
Last week Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said David Barnea, head of Israel’s national intelligence agency Mossad, had approached Qatar to secure a deal for providing the medicines needed.
On Tuesday Mr Netanyahu issued a statement expressing “his appreciation to all those who have assisted in the endeavor”.
The Hamas attacks in October triggered Israel’s intense bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 24,000 people so far, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Palestinian officials say that 85% of Gaza’s population has been displaced. While more aid is now getting into Gaza the UN’s humanitarian chief has described the situation as “intolerable”.
Israel is coming under increasing international pressure to consider a ceasefire or pause in Gaza, such is the scale of the civilian suffering.
Even its closest ally the US, which consistently defends Israel’s right to self-defense, has repeatedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the civilian death toll is “far too high”.
Last week US State Secretary Anthony Blinken cited UN figures that 90% of the population continued to face severe food insecurity, adding: “For children, the effects of long periods without sufficient food can have lifelong consequences.”
“More food, more water, more medicine, and other essential goods need to get into Gaza.”