Amid truce between Israel and Hamas, World Health Organisation (WHO) said more people could die from disease than bombings in Gaza if health system not restored. Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Israel of 'blatant breach' of ceasefire in Gaza.
"Was still committed to the ceasefire so long as the enemy is committed to it," said a Hamas official.
Also, IDF's chief of staff said the military is ready to continue fighting and is using truce to "strengthen readiness".
Israel's chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said "We are using the days of truce as part of the agreement for learning, strengthening readiness, and approving the operational plans for the duration."
"We are preparing to continue fighting to dismantle Hamas. It will take time, these are complex goals, but they are more than justified," said Halevi in a statement.
"The return of the hostages is a ray of light for all of us. It is also another testimony to the results of significant military pressure and high-quality ground manoeuvre. We created the conditions for the return of our citizens home. We will continue to do so," it added.
WHO’s spokesperson Margaret Harris described the al-Shifa hospital’s collapse in northern Gaza as a “tragedy”.
“Eventually we will see more people dying from disease than from bombardment if we are not able to put back together this health system,” said Harris. Even detention of some of its medical staff by Israeli forces also raises concern, she added.
However, firing was reported in Gaza Strip towards the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) troops. Three explosive devices were detonated adjacent to IDF troops in two different locations in the northern Gaza Strip, violating the framework of the operational pause, said IDF.
Reportedly, number of soldiers were “lightly injured” during the incidents.
“A number of soldiers were lightly injured during the incidents. In both incidents, the troops were located in positions as per the framework of the operational pause," IDF posted in Telegram.
Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that three people have been killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces. Reportedly, an Israeli shell landing was reported in Lebanon as well.
Qatar focused on extending truce
As the hostages are being released, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al Ansari, has confirmed that military personnel held in Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian groups will not be considered for release until all the civilian hostages have been freed.
However, Qatar is focused on further extending a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel beyond Wednesday. Qatar could not validate the number of remaining hostages beyond the 20 to be released by Hamas on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ansari added.
“The current priority is the release of civilian hostages, women and children, then will come the turn of the military ones,” he said.
The leaders of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel's Mossad met Qatar's prime minister in Doha on Tuesday to build on the two-day extension of a truce between Israel and Hamas. The meeting was to build on the progress of the extended humanitarian pause agreement and to initiate further discussions about the next phase of a potential deal, reported Reuters.
Meanwhile, Gaza health ministry said the dialysis unit at al-Shifa hospital has been reopened and is receiving patients. The WHO says there are 180 patients, including 22 on kidney dialysis, and seven health care workers at the hospital.
An Israeli government spokesperson on Monday said the total number of hostages still held in Gaza was now 184.
Daily hardships of war
Though there is some respite to the situation in Gaza with the truce, people still continue to struggle with hardships including food, shelter and water. At a water station in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, people filled plastic containers and lugged them to homes or shelters using carts pulled by donkeys or by hand, shopping trolley or even a wheelchair.
"The struggle for water happens daily, since we were first displaced until now. Even during the ceasefire, they didn't find a solution to the water problem," Rami al-Rizek was quoted by the Reuters.
However, the pause in fighting has allowed an increased number of aid trucks to enter Gaza from Egypt.
"Whether there is a truce or not, we still have no electricity, no water, and none of life's basic necessities," said Muath Hamdan, another man waiting at the water station told Reuters.
