The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that 11 ambulances, 3 buses, and a flat medical bed were delivered to Al-Shifa Hospital, which has witnessed heavy fighting in recent days, “to assist in evacuation operations,” according to Agence France-Presse.
The Israeli authorities considered this hospital to be the main command center for Hamas’ operations in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas denies, while Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak revealed that Israel was the one who built the basement under Al-Shifa Hospital when it controlled the Gaza Strip more than 4 decades ago. .
The OCHA statement added, “The longer the truce lasts, the more humanitarian relief agencies will be able to send more aid to and through Gaza,” thanking the Palestinian and Egyptian Red Crescent Societies.
The previous day, when the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas began in order to facilitate the exchange of detainees and prisoners, 137 trucks delivered aid to Gaza, according to the United Nations.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, “We welcome the release of more ‘hostages’ today (Saturday) and renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all ‘hostages’,” according to Agence France-Presse.
The statement expressed the office’s hope that the release of more Palestinian prisoners would provide “reassurance to their families and loved ones.”
A second batch of detainees released by Hamas arrived in Israel, which in turn released a second group of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, on the second day of the truce after 7 weeks of a devastating war.
The truce seemed to hold on its second day, as the Israeli army stopped its bombing of Gaza and its military operations inside the Strip. Hamas also stopped firing rockets towards Israel.
For weeks, the United Nations, international non-governmental organizations and many foreign capitals continued to demand an end to the fighting, especially in order to deliver emergency aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip who are living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
#United #Nations #aid #trucks #arrive #northern #Gaza