Gaza

An agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas under which medicine and other aid will be sent to Gaza and to some of the people still being held hostage by Hamas, Qatar’s foreign ministry diplomats said after talks. Reuters reports that medicine would be delivered to about 45 of the hostages being held. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said earlier Tuesday that Israel’s warfare in Gaza had shifted to a lower intensity. This has raised hopes that negotiations can take place on a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. “I don’t want to say too much publicly here, but we have hopes that this will bear fruit and that it will bear fruit soon,” Kirby said. /ritzau/