Hamas Sets New Conditions for Delivery of Medicine to Hostages in Gaza, Raising Tensions with Israel

Hamas leadership announced on Wednesday new conditions for the delivery of crucial medicines to hostages held by the group in Gaza. Senior Hamas official, Musa Abu Marzuk, stated that the trucks carrying the medicines must not be inspected by Israel in order to deliver the medication to the hostages. This comes after a deal was brokered by mediators Qatar and France, which aims to supply medicines and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in exchange for the delivery of drugs needed by the hostages. Under the new conditions, for every box of medicine delivered to the hostages, 1,000 boxes will be provided for the residents of Gaza.

Marzuk emphasized that the medicines will be supplied through a country that Hamas trusts and not France, and would be delivered to different hospitals. The pharmaceutical trucks will enter Gaza without Israeli inspection, a point of contention for Israeli officials who have historically subjected all aid deliveries entering the Gaza Strip to Israeli scrutiny. Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed that two Qatari planes carrying medicines arrived in the Egyptian city of El-Arish, near the Rafah border crossing, and mentioned that the planes were carrying 61 tonnes of aid, including medicines.

Meanwhile, France stated that the drugs would be sent to a hospital in Rafah where they would be handed over to the Red Cross and divided into batches before being transferred to the hostages. Following the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israeli communities, which resulted in the taking of 250 people to Gaza, Israeli officials believe that 132 hostages are still being held captive in the territory, including 27 who are believed to have been killed.

Israel has launched a blistering assault in Gaza since the attack, resulting in significant casualties. The development of these new conditions adds complexity to the already challenging negotiations for the supply of crucial medicines to the hostages in Gaza, highlighting the ongoing tensions and complex dynamics between Hamas, Israel, and international mediators.