In a diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Qatar and France, a groundbreaking agreement has been brokered between Israel and Hamas to address a pressing humanitarian issue.
Approximately 45 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will receive urgent medication, courtesy of a deal that involves reciprocal provisions of humanitarian and medical aid for the most vulnerable civilians in the region. The aid, set to depart from Qatar for Egypt on Wednesday, will navigate the Rafah border crossing as part of the carefully negotiated arrangement.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari elucidated that the agreement entails the delivery of medicine and essential humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, particularly focusing on the most affected and vulnerable areas.
In return, Israel will receive the necessary medication for the Israeli captives in Gaza. However, specific details regarding the quantity and nature of the aid for civilians were not disclosed.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that two Qatari Air Force planes, loaded with medicines procured in France based on an Israeli list, are expected to land in Egypt on Wednesday.
The complex negotiations, which spanned several weeks, were initiated by the families of some of the Israeli hostages, as highlighted by Philippe Lalliot, head of France’s foreign ministry crisis center.
Individualized medical packages, meticulously assembled in France, are slated for delivery to each of the 45 hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross will play a crucial role in coordinating the ground operations.
Notably, France currently has three nationals detained in Gaza, though none of them require urgent medication, according to Lalliot’s statement.
