Hamas has announced that it has reached an agreement with mediators regarding the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees who were scheduled to be freed by Israel last week.
An armed faction allied with Hamas, the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, has also claimed that the body of Israeli captive Ohad Yahalomi is among four bodies set to be handed over in Gaza tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military conducted airstrikes on targets south of Damascus, Syria, killing at least two people. The Israeli military stated the strikes were in response to what it called a threat posed by military forces in the region.
The United Nations has urged Israel to allow more humanitarian aid, including tents and shelters, into the Gaza Strip. This appeal comes after six Palestinian infants reportedly died from hypothermia during a severe cold spell, according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Casualty figures continue to rise as the conflict escalates. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 48,348 Palestinians have been killed, and 111,761 people have been wounded during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Government Media Office in Gaza estimates the total death toll to be at least 61,709, citing thousands believed to be buried under rubble.
In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed during the October 7, 2023 attacks led by Hamas, with more than 200 individuals taken captive.
