Aid for hostages, civilians enters Gaza as Israel steps up strikes

Medicine and humanitarian aid destined for Israeli hostages and Palestinian residents entered the war-ravaged Gaza Strip on Wednesday under a deal brokered by Qatar and France, in the first agreement between Israel and Hamas since a November truce. The shipment came as Israel stepped up its bombardment of southern Gaza and as France announced that it would not join US-led strikes against Houthis in the Red Sea in a bid to avoid regional escalation. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.