Gaza: Hamas Claims New Ceasefire Negotiations Are No Longer Relevant

Hamas has stated that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza are no longer relevant at this stage and is urging the world to pressure Israel to stop the "war of hunger" in Palestinian territories, as indicated by a senior official on Tuesday.

"There is no point in engaging in negotiations or considering new ceasefire proposals while the war of hunger and extermination continues in the Gaza Strip," said Bassem Naïm, a member of the Palestinian movement's political bureau, to AFP.

"The world must pressure the Netanyahu government to end the crimes of hunger, thirst, and murder in Gaza," he added.

These statements come a day after the Israeli government announced a new military campaign in Gaza that aims for the "conquest" of the territory.

The Gaza Strip, where nearly all residents have been displaced, often multiple times, since the war began on October 7, 2023, has been under a strict blockade by Israel since March 2 and is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis.

Gaza's civil defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal, stated on Tuesday that three Palestinians, including a young girl, had been killed due to Israeli bombings that occurred at dawn in various areas of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army resumed its offensive on Gaza on March 18, ending two months of ceasefire.

The war was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.

Of the 251 individuals abducted, 58 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military. Hamas is also holding the remains of an Israeli soldier killed during a previous war in Gaza in 2014.

The Israeli retaliation campaign has resulted in at least 52,567 deaths in Gaza, mostly among civilians, according to data from the Hamas health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.