2024-01-12 06:31:18
According to a media report, Qatar is in talks with the Islamist Hamas to provide vital medicine to the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Qatar is making progress in talks with Israel to enable more supplies of medicine for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing informed sources.
Many of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza for nearly 100 days suffered from illnesses such as cancer and diabetes and required regular medicine.
On October 7, terrorists from 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. Israel believes that 136 hostages are still being held in the coastal area. 25 of them are probably no longer alive. Relatives of the hostages highlighted the need for medication at a meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, the newspaper reported.
On the hostage issue, Qatar is an important mediator between Hamas and Israel, which do not speak to each other directly. The talks regarding medical aid are separate from negotiations regarding the release of other hostages, it said. During a week-long ceasefire in November, 105 hostages were released in return for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The exchange took place following mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the USA.
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