DUBAI, November 22. /TASS/. More than 200 people have been killed over the past day in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli shelling, according to the enclave's government.
"Israeli planes even at this moment continue to strike people’s homes without warning. This causes dozens of deaths and injuries, as well as the destruction of dozens of homes. We are talking about more than 200 people dead in the last 24 hours as a result of the greater activity of the occupation (Israeli - TASS) forces," Ismail al-Sawabta, a Gaza government spokesman, told Al Jazeera.
Al-Sawabta commented on the agreement between Hamas and Israel to introduce a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, saying its most important point is that "Israel will stop killing Palestinians." He added that the residents of the enclave need more humanitarian aid, including water and food. Earlier, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said that more than 14,000 people have been killed and more than 30,000 injured as a result of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip. According to the official, more than 6,000 people are missing.
Hamas earlier said it had reached an agreement with Israel, which was brokered by Qatar and Egypt, to introduce a humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for four days. The group said that the agreement involves the release of 50 women and children under the age of 19 that are held in the enclave in exchange for the release of 150 women and children under the age of 19 from Israeli prisons. On Wednesday morning, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced that the ceasefire would be announced within 24 hours.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the government approved a plan to bring home at least 50 hostages and introduce a humanitarian pause for 4 days. After it’s over, the Israel Defense Forces will resume operations in the enclave. Israel will cease hostilities for a day every time when 10 more hostages are released, the Netanyahu office said. According to Israeli officials, Hamas is holding more than 200 people in captivity.