Hamas accuses Israel of slowing aid delivery

Hamas officials accused Israel on Wednesday of delaying aid deliveries to Gaza and jeopardising a truce and hostage release deal, an allegation Israel dismissed as "fake news."

Since a ceasefire in the war in Gaza took effect on January 19, truckloads of aid have been allowed into the devastated Gaza Strip. The truce is hinged on the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, in exchange for 1,900 people held in Israeli jails.

Hamas has so far released seven hostages, with 290 prisoners freed in exchange. Three more hostages are due to be released on Thursday. But two senior Hamas officials accused Israel of slowing down aid deliveries, with one citing items key to Gaza's recovery such as fuel, tents, heavy machinery and other equipment.


"According to the agreement, these materials were supposed to enter during the first week of the ceasefire," one official said.

"We warn that continued delays and failure to address these points will affect the natural progression of the agreement, including the prisoner exchange."

Israel hit back at the accusation, with a spokesman for COGAT-the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories-calling it "totally fake news". Between Sunday and 1100 GMT on Wednesday, "3,000 trucks entered Gaza", the spokesman said. "The agreement says it should be 4,200 in seven days."

Three more hostages' release

As the text of the agreement that Qatar, Egypt and the US mediated has not been made public, AFP was not able to verify its terms on aid. Both Hamas officials said group representatives raised the issue during a meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Wednesday. If all goes to plan on the hostage and prisoner releases Thursday, a further three hostages are set to be released Saturday.

Two killed in West Bank raids

Meanwhile, the Palestinian health ministry said on Wednesday Israeli forces killed two people in separate overnight raids in the occupied West Bank, including one in Jenin, where the Israeli military is conducting a major offensive.