"US Increases Aid to Gaza, Urges Sustained Support Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict"

The truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its fifth day, with hopes of further captive releases as the Israeli government approves the inclusion of 50 female Palestinian prisoners. The first U.S. humanitarian aid plane is set to land in Egypt, with two more aid flights planned. Qatar is focused on prolonging the cease-fire, while Israel's central bank estimates the war has cost $53.4 billion and cuts growth forecast. The Gaza Strip requires a thousand aid trucks daily for recovery, and the UN reports that cooking gas deliveries remain below local needs. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the West Bank this week, and 33 Palestinian prisoners have been released. Additionally, 200 aid trucks enter Gaza, and 11 hostages released by Hamas are now in Israel's territory.