GAZA: Israel stepped up strikes on the south of war-torn Gaza on Wednesday, ahead of the expected delivery of medicines for captives in exchange for humanitarian aid under a newly brokered deal.
Air strikes and artillery fire targeted Khan Yunis throughout the night, said a correspondent in the southern Gaza Strip's biggest city.
"It was the most difficult and intense night in Khan Yunis since the start of the war," said Gaza's government, whose health ministry reported 81 deaths across the Palestinian territory.
At least 24,448 Palestinians, about 70 per cent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in Israeli bombardments and ground assaults, according to the Gaza health ministry's latest figures.
Palestinian groups seized about 250 hostages during the October 7 attacks, and around 132 remain in Gaza, including at least 27 believed to have been killed.
The fate of those still in captivity has gripped Israeli society, while a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza marked by the threat of famine and disease has fuelled international calls for a ceasefire.
The agreement announced on Tuesday allowing medicines to reach the captives and aid to enter the besieged Palestinian territory was brokered by Qatar and France.
Under the deal, "medicine along with other humanitarian aid is to be delivered to civilians in Gaza... in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza," Qatar's foreign ministry said.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the deal, under which 45 captives are expected to receive medication.
The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the deal, saying it was "a much-needed moment of relief".
A security source in Egypt said a Qatari plane carrying medicines had arrived on Wednesday at El-Arish near the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
France said 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 captives.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he was hopeful Qatar-brokered talks could lead to another such deal "soon".
In Tel Aviv, anti-war protesters scuffled with police on Tuesday night, as some held up signs reading "End the siege" and "Stop the genocide".
"Civilians are getting killed by the Israeli bombings," said protester Michal Sapri. "It leads to nothing. Our hostages are still there. We're not going to release them (through) more military power."
The Israeli public has kept up intense pressure on Netanyahu's government to secure the return of the hostages, with officials repeatedly insisting military pressure is necessary to bring about any kind of deal. — AFP
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