Israel, Hamas reach deal on medicine for hostages, aid to Gaza

Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to deliver urgent medication to Israeli hostages held in Gaza in return for humanitarian and medical aid for civilians.

The deal was negotiated by Qatar and France.

Making the announcement, Qatar's official Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the aid would leave Qatar for Egypt on Wednesday before being taken across the Rafah border crossing.

Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement the deal would mean "medicine along with other humanitarian aid is to be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza."

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said two Qatari Air Force planes were to land on Wednesday in Egypt with medicines purchased in France based on an Israeli list.

It comes as southern Gaza came under heavy Israeli fire on Tuesday, hours after Israel announced that the phase of “intensive” operations in the area "will end soon".

Israeli aircraft bombed Khan Yunis through the night, where ground operations and air strikes have been concentrated for weeks. Forces also targeted about 100 rocket launching pads in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing dozens. 

Hamas announced that the Israeli strikes on the entire Gaza Strip through Monday night resulted in 78 deaths and multiple injuries, with a total reported death toll of approximately 24,100 people since the start of the conflict.

Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities reported that rockets were launched at dawn on Tuesday from the Gaza Strip towards southern Israel. Most of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, and there were no casualties.

The Israeli army also announced the death of two of their soldiers in Gaza, bringing their total ground offense death toll to 190 since October 27.