Israel reaches deal with Qatar to provide medicine to Hamas hostages in war-torn Gaza

Israel officials said Friday that they’ve reached a deal with Qatar negotiators to move medicine into Gaza for hostages held by militant group Hamas amid the ongoing war in the region, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

The remaining hostages could receive the medicine in the next few days, Reuters reported.

More than 240 hostages were captured by Hamas when it launched a surprise attack that killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7. In the more than three months since, Israel has launched a counteroffensive that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and has vowed to continue fighting until all of the hostages are returned.

Qatar and the United States helped Israel broker a deal in November for a temporary cease-fire in exchange for returning some hostages. Hamas freed almost half of the hostages in return for the release of many Palestinian detainees that were held in Israel and shipments of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Released hostages have described torture, sexual assault and the lack of necessary medicine for many people, as a large amount of hostages taken were elderly or have chronic illnesses, Reuters reported.

Families of the hostages have asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to deliver medicine and inspect the condition of the hostages, which the organization said Hamas blocked access, per the news wire.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also said it would demand visual proof that the medications reached the hostages. In a statement, the group warned that all of the hostages face mortal danger and need life-saving medicine and many require extensive medical treatment.

The United States State Department announced this week that after a trip to the Middle East, Secretary Antony Blinken was able to agree with many Arab countries to focus on short-term and long-term solutions for the reconstruction and future governance in Gaza — if Israel is able to agree as well.

The countries are continuing diplomatic relations as tensions in the region have spiked surrounding the war.

U.S. officials have urged Israel to dial back its attacks and operate in a more precise manner.