live blog
Aid organizations have brought tons of goods to the north of the Gaza Strip. There are signals of a willingness to expand the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas. The developments in the live blog.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged the Federal Government’s full commitment to the release of further hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Scholz was relieved that hostages had been released from the hands of the terrorists. “The fact that there are several Germans among those released is another reason for joy,” he said. The Chancellor thanked everyone who had worked for their fate “through tireless diplomacy”. However, Hamas still has more than 100 women, men and children in its power. “They too must now be released immediately.”
Humanitarian organizations have delivered tons of aid to the north of the territory during the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This included ready meals, drinking water, tents and blankets as well as medicine, as the UN emergency relief office OCHA reported. Fuel for electricity production and material for desalination plants, water pumping stations and a wastewater treatment plant were also delivered. The Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which was partially badly damaged, has reopened its dialysis ward for kidney patients with new fuel.
According to Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, the three French children released by the militant Islamist Hamas are doing well. When asked about the condition of the 12 and 16 year olds, she told broadcaster RTL: “We have indirect news and this news is good (…) It’s a big, big relief.”
Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas have signaled their willingness to expand the ceasefire agreement in order to exchange more hostages and prisoners. Hamas representative Khalil al-Hajah said the radical Islamic Palestinian group was seeking a new agreement that would not only involve releasing women and children. This would mean “that we aim for an additional period of time to continue the exchange of people in this phase”. At the same time, Israel expanded the list of Palestinian prisoners eligible for release to include 50 female prisoners, also suggesting the possibility of expanding the agreement.
Israel has confirmed the release of 33 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. The prison authorities said the prisoners were released during the night. In return, the terrorist organization Hamas released eleven Israeli hostages.
The Israeli government has received a list of hostages to be released today as part of an extended ceasefire agreement with Hamas, according to a media report. This was reported by Israeli Army Radio, citing the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The news website Axios writes that the names of ten hostages are on the list. Netanyahu’s office had no comment.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the extension of the ceasefire in the war between Israel and the radical Islamist Hamas. “I once again call on the Hamas terrorists to release all the hostages taken in the terrible attack on October 7th,” said the German EU politician. The ceasefire, which was extended until Thursday, will allow more civilians in the Gaza Strip to access necessary assistance. According to von der Leyen, the EU Commission has so far brought 900 tons of aid supplies to the Gaza Strip via Egypt on 20 flights. Another four flights are scheduled to follow this week, she said.
According to Israeli information, around 200 trucks have brought relief supplies to the Gaza Strip. The cargo had previously been inspected, the Cogat authority responsible for Palestinian affairs announced. Among other things, four containers with diesel fuel and four containers with cooking gas were transported from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing to UN aid organizations in the area. The trucks were also loaded with food, water supplies, shelter equipment and medical supplies, it said.
US Secretary of State Blinken plans to visit Israel and the West Bank this week. UN Secretary-General Guterres hopes to open another border crossing in the Gaza Strip. Monday’s developments to read.