Shipments of medical supplies and other aid are being distributed as part of a deal brokered by Qatar and France.
A shipment of medical supplies and other aid for Israeli captives and Palestinian civilians has entered the Gaza Strip as part of a deal brokered by Qatar and France between Israel and Hamas.
The aid delivery is the first agreement agreed between Israel and the Palestinian group, and marks some progress since a short-lived truce ended on December 1.
“The humanitarian aid trucks allowed into southern Gaza are not enough to meet the desperate needs of the people,” said Al Jazeera's Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Rafah in the southern Strip on Thursday.
The shipment arrived on Wednesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed. It will be distributed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
“In the last few hours, medicines and aid entered the Gaza Strip, in implementation of the agreement announced yesterday for the benefit of civilians in the Strip, including the hostages,” al-Ansari published in X.
In recent hours, medicines and aid have entered the Gaza Strip, in application of the agreement announced yesterday for the benefit of civilians in the Strip, including hostages.
Qatar, together with its regional and international partners, continues its mediation efforts in…
-د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) January 17, 2024
Al Jazeera's Hamdah Salhut, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, noted that “getting there was not that easy.”
The process was Added to “complexities,” our correspondent said, as Hamas was under the impression that aid would not be inspected upon entering Gaza, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied such an agreement, causing “political turmoil” within his government. ..
Under the deal, 45 captives held by Hamas will receive prescription medication, while supplies will be distributed to Palestinian civilians in parts of the besieged enclave that has been relentlessly bombed by Israeli forces, leaving the entire population facing critical levels of hunger and at risk. increasing disease.
More than 100 of the approximately 240 captives taken by Hamas during its attack on southern Israel on October 7 were freed during a truce in November, in which some Palestinian prisoners were also freed.
Aid is not enough for Gaza's needs
Al Jazeera's Mahmoud said at least 10 trucks were allowed in, adding that “the packages they brought included supplies for depleted hospitals.”
“Palestinians here have become accustomed to the routine of queuing for more than half a day just to receive aid or food stamps. “It is incredibly difficult because the amount of humanitarian aid arriving is very small compared to the needs of more than 1.9 million displaced Palestinians,” he added.
The PRCS said on Wednesday that 146 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered from the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing – called Kerem Shalom in Israel – while 48 trucks entered through Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt carrying food, water and medical supplies. in addition to 12 commercial trucks. trucks.
A senior Hamas official said that for every box given to captives, 1,000 boxes of medicine would be sent to Palestinians.
France's ambassador to Israel, Frederic Journes, told Israeli public radio Kan that he hoped this agreement would be a “first humanitarian step” to see the remaining Israeli captives released.
