The UAE’s largest relief initiative for Gaza is entering its largest phase, targeting 9,500 displaced people who are residing in shelters and temporary tents.

Called Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, the campaign will focus on people in southern Gaza near Al-Aqsa University in Khan Yunis, Emirates news agency Wam said on Saturday.

The latest phase will include vital repairs to water lines and sewerage networks, as well as supporting bakeries and soup kitchens to ensure they have sufficient food.

Efforts under the new phase have already begun, with two UAE aid envoys that carried various humanitarian items into the Gaza strip this week through the Rafah Border Crossing in Egypt.

The convoys comprised 25 lorries carrying more than 309.5 tonnes of aid, including food supplies, shelter tents and other essential items.

This brings the total number of aid convoys to have entered the Gaza Strip under the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 campaign to 155.

At least 46,788 Palestinians have been killed and 110,453 wounded since the Gaza war began in 2023. A Gaza ceasefire is scheduled to come into effect at 8.30am local time on Sunday.

Israel is agreeing to release 737 Palestinian detainees in the first phase of the ceasefire. In return, Hamas has agreed to release three female hostages on the first day, four on the seventh day, and another 26 over the subsequent five weeks.

The first batch of hostages released will include children, the sick and elderly.