Hours after the first aid trucks arrived from Egypt in war-torn Gaza, the Israeli military announced it was stepping up its bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza. In a statement, the military said it aimed to reduce the risks its troops would face as they entered Gaza in the next phase of the war.
Days after being stalled, humanitarian aid from Egypt into war-torn Gaza started passing through the Rafah border crossing today, the news agency AFP reported citing a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official. Egyptian state television also showed several trucks entering the gate on the 15th day of the war between Israel and Hamas.
A statement from the Hamas group said that a convoy including 20 aid trucks carrying medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies will enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas fighters released two US citizens among some 200 hostages they took in the October 7 attacks in Israel. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said.
The Hamas group also said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that they would release more people soon.
Israel says 203 people including Israelis, dual nationals, and foreigners were kidnapped by Hamas when they launched the deadliest attacks. At least 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to the government.
Israel has responded by bombing the Gaza Strip which has left more than 4,100 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas administration.