Israel allows more aid into Gaza as 369 Palestinians set to be released

More aid has finally entered the Gaza Strip following tense confrontations between Israel and Hamas, which once threatened the ceasefire agreement reached in January. Previously, serious disagreements existed between the two sides regarding the implementation of the agreement's terms, leading to a period of heightened tension. This underscores the fragility of the peace and the constant need for negotiation.

Since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, he had openly stated his plan to "clear" two million Palestinians from Gaza and "own" the territory. Concurrently, Hamas accused Israel of failing to adhere to the agreement's stipulations, placing the ceasefire agreement in a consistently precarious position. This divergence in perspectives continues to challenge the stability of the region.

Hamas called on Israel to abide by the terms of the agreement, or it would be unable to release the next batch of hostages as scheduled on Saturday. In response, Trump threatened that if all living hostages were not released, "everything will explode." Israel subsequently warned that a "new round of Gaza war of a completely different intensity" could erupt, thereby "realizing Trump's vision for Gaza." The international community is closely watching the situation to prevent further escalation.

According to Agence France-Presse, citing Egyptian state media, Egypt and Qatar have increased their mediation efforts and successfully "overcome the obstacles" hindering the implementation of the agreement. According to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, has confirmed the release of three Israeli hostages on Saturday: Yair Horn, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Alexander Sasha Trufanov. In exchange, 369 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will be released. This exchange is a crucial step in maintaining the fragile peace.

Meanwhile, Israel has allowed aid convoys, mainly consisting of humanitarian supplies, to enter Gaza. However, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, heavy machinery and mobile homes are still being prevented from entering Gaza, remaining stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border. Azzoum stated, "Despite Israeli promises to change the behavior of restricting aid supplies, including allowing reconstruction equipment to enter to provide immediate shelter for Palestinians living in the ruins of destroyed homes, the situation has not improved." He added that Israel is waiting for the release of the hostages before complying with the ceasefire agreement. The slow pace of aid delivery is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

For the past month, Israel has been blocking materials such as housing and bulldozers from entering Gaza, which are part of the "humanitarian agreement" in the ceasefire. This has severely hampered efforts to clear debris, search for missing persons, and recover the remains of thousands of victims still believed to be trapped under the rubble. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated earlier this week that at least 641 bodies have been recovered since the ceasefire began on January 19, but an estimated 11,000 people are still believed to be buried under the rubble. The lack of resources is hindering rescue and recovery efforts.

Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement, hindering the entry of aid. Since the start of the ceasefire, more than 90 people have been killed and over 800 injured, turning Gaza into a life-threatening minefield. On Thursday night, a child died in an explosion of explosives in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) had previously stated that 5% to 10% of weapons fired into Gaza failed to explode, leaving behind deadly hazards. These unexploded ordnances pose a significant risk to civilians.

Luke Owen, head of the United Nations Mine Action Service in the occupied Palestinian territory, stated in a briefing in late January, "Humanitarian convoys are finding an increasing number of items as we reach new areas that were previously inaccessible, including large aerial bombs, mortars, anti-tank weapons, rockets, and rifle grenades." Concurrently, the Israeli army announced an attack on Gaza on Thursday, violating the ceasefire agreement. According to Wafa news agency, Israeli fighter jets attacked the Bureij refugee camp, resulting in the death of 15-year-old Anas Sakr an-Nabahin. These actions further undermine the fragile truce.

According to the latest data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 48,239, with another 111,676 injured, since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The ongoing conflict continues to have a devastating impact on the civilian population.