Hamas Declares No Truce Talks with ‘israel’ Until Gaza Blockade Ends
Hamas has announced its refusal to enter into new ceasefire negotiations with Israel, citing the continuation of what it refers to as the "hunger war" imposed by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza as a primary reason for its stance.
Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau and former health minister in Gaza, informed AFP that engaging in discussions or considering new ceasefire proposals is senseless while the “hunger war and extermination war” persist in the Gaza Strip.
Naim has called on the global community to exert pressure on the Israeli authorities to halt actions described as “crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings.”
In a recent development, his comments emerged shortly after Israel issued a warning of a heightened military campaign in Gaza. According to statements from Tel Aviv, this escalation would involve the “conquest of the Gaza Strip and the retention of the territories.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the imminent campaign will see Israeli forces maintaining control over the captured populated areas, and will involve a substantial displacement of the resident population.
Since the conflict erupted in October 2023, nearly the entire population of Gaza, totaling 2.3 million, has faced repeated displacement due to the ongoing military actions in the region.
The humanitarian conditions in the besieged region have significantly worsened since Israel halted the influx of medical supplies, fuel, and food into Gaza in mid-March following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire agreement.
Aid organizations have consistently issued warnings that the humanitarian response in Gaza is nearing a state of “total collapse.”
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) issued a stark warning this week, indicating that food supplies have “completely run out” in both local markets and humanitarian distribution centers located in Gaza.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has issued a stark warning, highlighting that the population is once again facing an extreme risk of famine. The organization reported that over a million displaced individuals are unable to fulfill even their most basic daily requirements.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has once again stressed the urgency of allowing humanitarian aid to enter promptly and has issued a caution to Israel regarding the “politicization” of such assistance.
Indirect negotiations, facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, have persisted following Israel’s breach of the ceasefire. However, these efforts have thus far not produced any tangible outcomes.
Qatar, a pivotal intermediary in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, announced on Tuesday that it continues to strive towards establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, despite Hamas expressing disinterest in pursuing additional discussions.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated that efforts are still underway despite the challenges posed by the dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
He stated that discussions centered on ensuring the delivery of aid into Gaza and emphasized the need to halt the militarization of assistance, a practice he attributed to Israel since the onset of the conflict.
