Israel and Hamas are in talks to supply medicine to hostages in Gaza

Qatar is in high-level talks with Hamas to supply essential prescription medicines to Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, while making progress with Israel on allowing more medicines into the enclave for Gaza citizens, officials said.

More than 120 hostages have now been held in Gaza for almost 100 days and many suffer from health problems requiring regular medical care, including cancer and diabetes. Their families have grown increasingly concerned as the war enters its fourth month and hostages released in late November share harrowing stories of their captivity.

Relatives of the hostages raised the need for medicine during a meeting in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Adbdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said Daniel Lifshitz, the grandson of one of the hostages.

An official familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of their sensitivity, confirmed the meeting. He said negotiators discussed what types of drugs were needed, how much was needed and how they should be delivered. Discussions are underway with international organizations that can help achieve these goals, he added.

Qatar has become a key mediator between Hamas and Israel – who do not speak directly – in hostage negotiations. The talks over medical aid are separate from broader negotiations over a new hostage release, which have failed to reach an agreement.

A senior Israeli official, who was not authorized to speak to the news media and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that talks on medicine for the hostages and for Gaza citizens had made progress. Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said in a text message that the group was actively discussing efforts to deliver medicine “with great positivity.”

The official briefed on the talks said Israel is showing willingness to allow the delivery of medicine to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. According to the United Nations, only 15 hospitals in Gaza remain at least partially functional amid Israeli military attacks on the enclave, and shortages of medical supplies are severe.

Israel has allowed trucks carrying medicines to enter Gaza, but United Nations officials say those supplies have failed to meet residents’ needs.

Waleed Abu Hatab, director of maternal medicine at the Nasser Medical Center in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, said he was facing major shortages of milk replacer, anesthetics and vaccines, making it difficult to provide adequate care to newborns.

“If this situation continues, I am afraid that many will not survive,” he said in a telephone interview. “We are dealing with an impossible situation.”

Israelis calling for the return of the hostages said they would be greatly relieved if Hamas allowed the delivery of medicine. “The lives of all hostages are in danger, especially those in need of medical treatment,” said Dr. Hagai Levine, chairman of the medical team at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli group. “It is my wish that they finally get the treatment they deserve.”

Mr. Lifshitz, the grandson of Oded Lifshitz, an 83-year-old Israeli journalist and peace activist held in Gaza, said he was at the recent talks in Qatar where families raised the issues. He said he had been concerned about his grandfather’s health since he was taken hostage.

“The fact that so many hostages have been denied the medicine they need is a death sentence,” he said. “They should have gotten what they needed on day one.”