Qatar: Hamas 'confirms' medicine delivered to Gaza hostages
Qatar and France brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas last month on the delivery of urgent medication to hostages held by the terror group in Gaza.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERSUpdated: FEBRUARY 20, 2024 22:20Medication for Gaza hostages found in Gaza's Nasser Hospital, February 18, 2024(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Hamas has confirmed receipt of a shipment of medicines under a deal brokered by Qatar and has begun delivering the supplies to hostages held in Gaza, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.
Qatar and France brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas last month on the delivery of urgent medication to hostages held by the terror group in Gaza in return for humanitarian and medical aid for the most vulnerable civilians in the enclave.
"Qatar received these confirmations as the mediator in the agreement, which includes the entry of the medicines and shipment of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially in the most affected and damaged areas, in exchange for delivering the medicines needed by hostages in the sector," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al-Ansari, said in a statement.
Official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs @majedalansari : Qatar received confirmation from Hamas medicines were received and delivery commenced to hostages in Gaza.#MOFAQatarpic.twitter.com/IikgdZc7oy
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) February 20, 2024
Medication for Gaza hostages found in Gaza's Nasser Hospital, February 18, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
IDF found medicine bound for hostage in Gaza hospital
Recently, the IDF discovered multiple shipments of medicine with hostages' names written on them, implying that the shipments never reached their intended target.
The medicines found by the IDF soldiers at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis were closed and had not been used. Some of them were still enclosed in sealed brown boxes. On every medication box was the name of the hostage for whom it was intended.
The IDF said that the source of the drugs and their use was under investigation.
Later on Tuesday, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying, "Qatar's statement is a direct result of Prime Minister Netanyahu's insistence on receiving proof of the arrival of the drugs for the hostages.
"Israel will examine the credibility of the report and will continue to work for the welfare of the hostages," it concluded.
