Israel is preparing for a “multilateral operation” against Hamas “from the air, land, and sea,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a video statement released on Monday (23).
On the same day, two more hostages captured by Hamas were released following mediation by Qatar and Egypt, according to two Israeli officials. Hamas also stated that it released two hostages, according to a statement from Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida.
“[We] released the two detainees [ ] keeping in mind that the enemy has refused since last Friday to receive them,” said Abu Obaida. “We decided to release them for humanitarian and health reasons.”
An informed source said that the hostages were Israeli citizens and women. One of the sources said they were released to the Red Cross. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed that it facilitated the release of two more hostages.
Humanitarian Aid
The Jewish state allowed humanitarian aid to enter the region. Twenty trucks passed through the Rafah crossing into Gaza on Monday, according to the UN. They were carrying water, food, and medicine.
On Saturday and Sunday, 34 trucks managed to enter Gaza with vital supplies, the same statement reported. This represents less than 4% of the daily average of goods that entered Gaza before October 7.
The number of internally displaced persons in Gaza is estimated at around 1.4 million, with nearly 580,000 people sheltered in 150 emergency shelters. But the organization warns of overcrowding, as the average number of people per shelter has reached more than 2.5 times the capacity.
As of October 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) documented 62 attacks on health centers. Seven hospitals, all in Gaza City and northern Gaza, have been forced to cease operations due to damage, lack of power and supplies, and evacuation orders. For the 14th consecutive day, Gaza remains under total power blackout.
In a joint statement on Sunday (22), Biden and the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy urged Israel to protect civilians and called for the release of all hostages captured by Hamas.
U.S. officials said the Biden administration advised Israel to delay a ground invasion, a move that would give them more time for negotiations to free the more than 200 people held hostage by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, and for more humanitarian actions.
The Gaza Ministry of Health said on Monday (23) that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 436 people “in the last hours,” raising the death toll to over 5,000 since October 7, when Israel began launching airstrikes in retaliation for an attack by the militant group Hamas that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel.
Source: CNN and The New York Times