On Tuesday, Qatar announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to allow the delivery of medicine to Israeli hostages and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani raised the agreement after he met some of the families of the more than 130 hostages still being held captive in the Gaza Strip this month.
Qatar Mediates Humanitarian Aid Between Israel, Hamas
TOPSHOT - Displaced Palestinians queue for food donations in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on November 30, 2023. The warring parties have agreed on an extension of the pause in fighting to allow time for Hamas to release more Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Qatari Ministry Spokesperson Majed al-Ansari announced that medication and humanitarian aid will leave Doha on Wednesday for the Egyptian city of El Arish to be transported to the Gaza Strip. He said Qatar mediated the agreement in cooperation with France.
On Tuesday, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the deal will see humanitarian aid delivered to civilians in the most affected and vulnerable areas in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of medication to Israeli captives held by Hamas. Qatar added that Doha will continue mediating a settlement between Israel and Hamas as part of its efforts to end the war in Gaza.
Philippe Lalliot, head of France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Center, which organizes aid efforts, said negotiations had been going on for weeks. He noted that the families of the Israeli hostages had initially proposed the idea of the agreement.
France produced specific medical packages for each of the 45 hostages that would last for several months. The International Committee of the Red Cross will cooperate with Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed the deal and said the premier "conveys his appreciation to all those who helped during the process." The office also stated that Israel will ensure the medications reach their destination.
Furthermore, a senior figure in the Gaza-ruling terror group claimed that medications from Qatar would reach the Gaza Strip and some medicine would be used to treat Israeli prisoners.
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US Negotiate With Doha to Release Hamas Hostages
Hamas took about 240 people as hostages during the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which also resulted in at least 1,139 deaths. Israel retaliated to the assault with a devastating bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, over 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli attack.
Over 100 hostages were released during a week-long ceasefire in late November after lengthy negotiations mediated by Qatar and the US. Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return.
The White House said earlier on Tuesday that US Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk was in Doha to discuss a possible deal for releasing captives.
National Security Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that McGurk was involved in earnest and intensive discussions with the Qataris about another deal. McGurk said that they are hopeful that the discussions will bear fruit soon.
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