Israel continues heavy airstrikes on Gaza Strip, reaches agreement with Hamas

Intense bombing raids continued in the northern Gaza Strip on the night of January 16, despite the Israeli Defense Ministry's earlier assertion that the "intense phase" of the offensive there had passed.

Israel tiếp tục không kích dữ dội Dải Gaza, đạt được thỏa thuận với Hamas

Smoke covers the sky over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, January 16. (Source: AFP)

The above information was mentioned by Al-Jazeera TV station, according to which, heavy artillery and air-to-ground missiles continued to rain down on buildings in the western and northern areas of Gaza city, even though these areas were almost deserted.

Meanwhile, Israeli military (IDF) airstrikes continue in the central and southern Gaza Strip, including the city of Khan Yunis.

On the morning of January 17, the IDF said it had killed six Hamas militants, including a city commander. According to Gaza's health authorities, the overnight IDF attacks left 81 people dead.

Also on this day, Reuters reported that Qatar and France had mediated a humanitarian agreement between Israel and the Hamas Islamic movement.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed: "Medicines and other humanitarian aid will be delivered to the people of the Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for the delivery of necessary medical treatment to Israeli detainees in Gaza."

According to Doha and Paris, the aid will leave Qatar for Egypt on January 17, before being transported through the Rafah border crossing.

However, Mr. al-Ansari did not provide further details on the quantity and type of aid that will be delivered to the people in Gaza.

Earlier the same day, the head of the French Foreign Ministry's Crisis Management Center, Philippe Lalliot, revealed that the negotiation process had been going on for weeks and the initial idea was proposed by the families of some Israeli hostages.

Several months' worth of medical supplies, collected in France, will be delivered to each of the 45 hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will coordinate the aid on the ground.

According to Mr. Lalliot, there are still three French hostages being held in Gaza, but none of them need urgent medical treatment.

In a related move, the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that two Qatari Air Force planes will land in Egypt on January 17, carrying medicines ordered in France according to Israel's list.

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