Israelis held hostage in Gaza - part 3

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Part 3.

I hope they come home soon and there's no need for a part 4.

@stomachamaleon don't want to get into a debate about where aid goes on this thread but I read elsewhere that the red cross might also be involved in getting the medicine to the hostages, although I don't think its verified.
I was wondering though what assurances or proof will be expected, to show that the hostages have recieved the medicine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68000227

BBC have reported it as well.

That aid....?

Interview with Thomas and Emily hand and piers Morgan. He was told on air that two of the hostages had died. One had apparently been held with Emily.

@EllaDisenchanted I saw that. I am not a massive fan of piers Morgan but even he could see the devastation that news brought to Thomas Hand.

@stomachameleon to be fair to Piers I thought he was very respectful and careful when interviewing Thomas.

in other news on the medication, the list of medication is for 45 of the hostages, who have chronic illnesses. Ynet reporting that Red Cross will not be involved. The Qatari delegation arrived in Egypt. No indications or trust in Israel that Hamas will honour their side and actually deliver the medications, but I guess it has to be at least attempted, for the chance that it will be delivered.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skag5mby6

on a news group I am on they reported about hostage negotiations going on, but it’s not a group I can verify or know enough about their sources to trust. I take it as a sign that perhaps talks are ongoing but being kept quiet? I’m not sure.

@EllaDisenchanted in yesterdays Guardian it said that the medication was going to a hospital in Rafah where it would be handed to the PRCS to be delivered to Hamas

Hopefully after so much time and careful negotiation it will go smoothly

@EllaDisenchanted How do you feel about it? On one hand I agree that Hamas are hardly the most trustworthy and where is the incentive to actually deliver it. I have read that 90% of aid getting through is ending up in warehouses sold to the highest bidder.

On the other hand it's what the families have asked for.

I just very much have my doubts.

@stomachameleon

I feel pretty similar to you, mixed feelings. I don’t think Hamas have any motivation to actually deliver it, and there is no oversight, so I think it’s a long shot it will get to them. Apparently it was negotiated in exchange tor 1000 boxes of aid to Gaza, unchecked.

I have no issue with aid going to Palestinian people (not Hamas), but I am a) concerned that it seems unlikely to go to those who need it and should be getting it and b) if it is truly not being checked, then there is a very high chance more weapons will be smuggled in.

Mainly though I feel like if there is a chance the medication will get to them, even if it is a slim chance, then they should take it.

I'm confused as to how they know what medicine is needed by the hostages at this point. Also, a diabetic getting insulin surely isn't going to help without also being able to regularly check blood sugar levels etc? I guess it's one of those cases where the potential positive outcomes outweigh the negative ones. I wonder if they've been able to include ready made formula for Kfir, and maybe even Ariel as surely that would be better than nothing even for a four year old.

It was really unethical of the station to put Emily on with him. She was clearly really unsettled when he got angry. I hope journalists stop asking for her to be next to him now.

I got the impression that she doesn't like to leave his side, not that they asked for her to be with him?

It was an uncomfortable watch. The media has a safeguarding responsibility towards
both he and Emily. Maybe I’m overreacting but it rang alarm bells for me.

@Humdingerydoo the medications are for hostages with chronic conditions, eg one of the hostages has asthma, so presumably the families know what they need

@Humdingerydoo i read that the families of the hostages provided the list of medicines that they think the hostages would need to France who then purchased the medicine. But you are right that it's not possible to know exactly what they might need depending on their current state which is unknown.

@EllaDisenchanted I saw things got abit heated this morning regarding checking the trucks which has the medicine but I last read that Netanyahu confirmed they would be inspected

Latest update so far from the times of Israel
In response to a query, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) says: “Per the directive of the political echelon, five trucks carrying medicine will undergo a security check at the Kerem Shalom crossing.”
“At the end of the inspection, the trucks will enter the Gaza Strip,” COGAT adds.

I have also seen it mentioned that another deal is underway and it involves the Qataris mediating it but nothing verified * *

@Kaffeebitte I didn't see Emily being there as a request more a necessity for her to be with her dad.

I know, but those chronic conditions will obviously have deteriorated by now so the medicines they needed 100+ days ago might not be what they need now. I'm all for them getting the medications they might possibly need though, obviously. I guess I'm thinking partly in terms of that scene from The West Wing where they basically say what's the point in sending AIDS drugs to Africa if the people who need it don't have watches and therefore can't take the drugs at the exact time needed.

I just want all the hostages home already, none of this will end until they are returned. Their poor, poor families 😔

@EllaDisenchanted I won't hold my breath.

@Humdingerydoo I agree. Can you imagine being diabetic and not having half your kit? Or going so long with no meds then to have a big boost?

I am sure Hamas have medical advisors though.

Really angry for the hostages Today. For the lack of pushing from the Red Cross etc. Thinking about individuals such as Hersh and whether he is alive.

Hopefully the 'change of plan' to inspect the medical aid won't sabotage nearly 4 months of careful negotiations

No word from Hamas on this yet

@Efacsen I don't understand what you mean?

@stomachamaleon

Which bit don't you understand? seems fairly straightforward

@Efacsen there is no need to be snipey. I Don't understand what you mean- who said there was a 'change of plan' and where you get four months of careful negotiations about this.
I wondered where the quote was from and jf I had missed it?

IDF Spokesman: "We can't confirm the medication will actually arrive".

"Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said that for every box of medicines provided for the hostages, 1,000 boxes would be sent in for Palestinians. The deal also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to residents of the Hamas-run coastal enclave. He also said that the International Committee of the Red Cross would deliver all the medications, including those destined for the hostages, to hospitals serving all parts of Gaza...
...A week after the brutal kidnappings, the medical and resilience team of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum gave the Red Cross a detailed document listing the acute and chronic health conditions of all the hostages, roughly 240 at the time, along with the names of the medications they take regularly.
The Red Cross refused to accept packages of medicines packed by the team, the Israeli government, and individual families intended to be delivered to the hostages."

https://www.timesofisrael.com/doctors-says-hostages-meds-vital-but-could-cause-harm-without-supervision/

@EllaDisenchanted well that's good of them. (Suppressed rage)