They claim that as part of an agreement mediated by France and Qatar, medical supplies will be distributed to Hamas hostages.
Israel will permit Gaza to receive more necessities in exchange. After Israeli bombardment for more than three months, the situation in the region is dire.
In the meantime, the US says it is optimistic that more negotiations will result in the release of additional hostages.
The potential of such a deal has been discussed by the US Middle East envoy, who is currently in Qatar, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Tuesday.
He went on, calling the discussions “very serious and intensive.” “We are hopeful it will bear fruit and bear fruit soon.”
Narratives of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas
The aid agreement was earlier announced by Majed Al Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry.
As per the agreement, the aid will depart from Doha, the capital of Qatar, and arrive in Egypt on Wednesday. After that, the aid will be transported to Gaza to be given to civilians, and medications will be given to Israeli prisoners.
It is believed that over 132 hostages are being held captive in Gaza.
On October 7, Hamas conducted several raids in southern Israel and captured about 240 people. Approximately 1,300 people died, the most of them civilians.
The Hostages Families HQ group stated in a letter to Israel’s war cabinet following the end of the ceasefire last year that many kidnappees required ongoing medical care and that some were in danger.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that David Barnea, the head of Mossad, the country’s intelligence agency, had contacted Qatar to broker a deal for the provision of the necessary medications.
Mr. Netanyahu expressed “his appreciation to all those who have assisted in the endeavour” in a statement he released on Tuesday.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza, which began in response to the October Hamas attacks, has killed over 24,000 people so far, the majority of them were women and children.
According to Palestinian officials, 85% of Gaza’s population is now without a place to live. While more aid is currently reaching Gaza, the situation has been deemed “intolerable” by the UN’s humanitarian chief.
Given the extent of the suffering inflicted upon civilians, Israel is facing mounting pressure from the international community to contemplate a ceasefire or pause in Gaza.
The US, Israel’s closest ally and a staunch supporter of Israel’s right to self-defense, has informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on numerous occasions that the number of civilian deaths is “far too high”.
90% of the population still experiences severe food insecurity, according to UN statistics cited last week by US State Secretary Anthony Blinken, who also noted that “for children, the effects of long periods without sufficient food can have lifelong consequences.”
“More food, more water, more medicine, other essential goods need to get into Gaza.”
