Qatar announces Israel-Hamas deal to let aid into Gaza, medicine for captives

Israel and Hamas reached a deal via Qatar mediation to allow the delivery of aid into Gaza, and medicine to the captives in the enclave, Doha announced late on Tuesday.

The deal "between Israel and (Hamas), where 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 in a statement.

"The medications and aid will leave Doha tomorrow to the city of Al-Arish in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, on board two Qatari Armed Forces aircraft, in preparation for their transport into the Gaza Strip," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari told state news agency QNA.

The deal followed a visit by the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza to Qatar and a meeting with the Gulf nation's prime minister.

Qatar has led negotiations between Israel and Hamas, having mediated a week-long break in the war in Gaza in November which included freeing scores of captives in return for the release of Palestinian women and child detainees held in Israeli jails.

Israel's bombardments and a ground offensive since October 7 have killed at least 24,285 Palestinians - more than 70 percent of them women and children - and injured over 60,000.

In its onslaught, Israel has damaged civilian infrastructure - including hospitals, schools and cultural property. Tel Aviv has also imposed a total seige on the enclave, banning the entry of food, fuel and medication.