Aid deliveries to gaza hit by looting hamas responds to u s peace plan

Aid deliveries to gaza hit by looting hamas responds to u s peace plan

Hamas says it will release 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel’s release of a number of Palestinian prisoners; it comes following a truce deal put forth by the U.S. President’s West Asia envoy Steve Witkoff; Israel’s response is awaited.

Armed men hijacked dozens of aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip overnight and hundreds of desperate Palestinians joined in to take supplies, local aid groups said on Saturday.

The incident was the latest in a series that has underscored the shaky security situation hampering the delivery of aid into Gaza, following the easing of a weeks-long Israeli blockade earlier this month.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he believed a ceasefire agreement was close and Hamas said on Saturday that it has submitted its response on a ceasefire proposal presented by Mr. Trump’s Middle East [West Asia] envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators.

The Palestinian group said in a statement that under the deal, it will release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel’s release of a number of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Saturday, the Israeli military, which relaunched its air and ground campaign in March following a two-month truce, said it was continuing to hit targets in Gaza, including sniper posts and had killed what it said was the head of a Hamas weapons manufacturing site.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministers of several Arab countries, who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend, on Saturday condemned Israel’s decision to block their trip.

Ministers’ visit blocked

Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain had been expected to take part alongside the secretary-general of the Arab League.

The Ministers condemned “Israel’s decision to ban the delegation’s visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas”, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.