A record number of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated, RIA Novosti reports, citing a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
61 vehicles are reported to have entered Gaza on Saturday with food, water and essential goods, as well as fuel.
“Another 200 trucks were sent from the Israeli village of Nitzana,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted, emphasizing that it welcomed the exchange of hostages between the parties.
Earlier, the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the completion of the transfer of 13 Israeli hostages and seven foreigners to the Red Cross. Before this, a group of hostages, also consisting of 13 people, which included women and children, had already been handed over to the Israeli side. Israel also released another batch of detained Palestinians.
On Friday at 7.00 local time (8.00 Moscow time), a truce between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas came into force. According to the terms of the truce, 200 trucks with aid and four with fuel and household gas will enter Gaza every day. Hamas also announced that Israel had committed to suspending flights for six hours, but said combat troops would remain on full alert.
The Palestinian Hamas movement is currently holding about 215 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. IDF spokesman Doron Spielman said. He noted that there is no information which of them is alive.