Tunisia's president directs continued aid to Palestinians

TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Wednesday directed his country's Red Crescent to continue providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

Saied made the announcement following a meeting in his palace attended by Health Minister Ali Mrabet, the president's Advisor Mustapha Ferjani, and head of Tunisian Red Crescent Abdellatif Chabou, according to a statement by the Tunisian Presidency.

The statement noted that Tunisia will receive a number of Palestinian patients in the country's public and private hospitals.

Early in November, the Tunisian health minister said a field hospital was established in the northern city of Ben Arous for the Palestinians with a capacity of 120 beds.

Tunisia earlier sent a military cargo plane loaded with medical supplies for the Palestinian people.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave. The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

Thursday morning, Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for another day to continue releasing hostages. The humanitarian pause was set to end on Thursday morning. Since the initial pause began last week, 66 Israeli prisoners have been released over the course of six days, in exchange for 210 Palestinians.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar