UN official says scaled-up aid deliveries to Gaza will begin on Sunday as ceasefire agreement 'now in effect'

"The aid will include 170,000 metric tons that have already been positioned in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Egypt as humanitarian officials awaited permission from Israeli forces to restart their work. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public. In the last several months, the UN and its humanitarian partners have been able to deliver only 20pc of the aid needed in the Gaza Strip, according to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher."

"The statement comes after Israel's government ratified a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday. 'Since 12:00, IDF troops began positioning themselves along the updated deployment lines in preparation for the ceasefire agreement and the return of hostages', the Israeli military said. Unicef has now urgently called for all crossings for food aid into Gaza to be opened, warning there was a risk that child deaths could spike due to their compromised immune systems."

"Regarding hostages, Israeli army radio said on Friday that 11 prisoners from Hamas will be released instead of 11 prisoners affiliated with Fatah as part of the Gaza agreement, saying there had been a "last minute" change in those who would be freed. The Israeli cabinet approved the deal early Friday morning, roughly 24 hours after mediators announced the agreement, which called"

Gaza ceasefire took effect at 9am GMT as IDF troops positioned along updated deployment lines in preparation for the return of hostages. Israel's cabinet approved the deal early Friday morning. Around 170,000 metric tons of aid are staged in neighbouring Jordan and Egypt awaiting Israeli permission to restart deliveries. In recent months only about 20% of needed aid reached the Gaza Strip. Unicef urgently called for all crossings for food aid to be opened, warning of a potential spike in child deaths due to severely compromised immune systems. Israeli army radio reported a last-minute change in who will be released among prisoners.

Read at Irish Independent