Through the mediation of the Gulf Emirate of Qatar, Israel claims to have reached an agreement with the terrorist organization Hamas to provide medicines to hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. The medicines will be launched “in the coming days”, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem announced this evening. In return, Israel was to provide medicines to the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has not yet commented on this. Israel believes that 136 hostages are still being held in the coastal area. 25 of them are probably no longer alive. Those abducted also include the elderly and sick, many of whom suffer from cancer and diabetes and therefore require regular medication.
On October 7, terrorists from Islamic Hamas and other extremist groups carried out the worst massacre in Israel's history. More than 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. During a ceasefire, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Families demand proof
The Hostage Families Forum, however, called for “visible evidence” that the medicines reached the hostages before Israel made the medicines available to the Palestinian population.
“The shocking images of hostages in captivity require greater pressure on countries involved in negotiations,” the forum statement said. The objective is to “press for the immediate release of the hostages and not just deliver medicine”.