Hamas No Longer Interested in Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Says Official

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A senior Hamas official stated on Tuesday that the Palestinian militant group sees no further purpose in engaging in Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Israel. He thus urged the international community to intervene and end Israel’s “hunger war” against Gaza.

"There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip," Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and a former Gaza health minister, said as cited by Arab News.

Naim called on the global community to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to cease the “crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings” in Gaza.

His remarks followed an announcement by the Israeli military on Monday that its expanded operation in Gaza and permanent occupation of the territory would involve the displacement of "most" of its residents.

On Monday, Israel’s security cabinet reportedly approved a military plan for this expanded operation, which an Israeli official suggested would entail "the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories."

Since the start of Israel's genocide, triggered by Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, nearly the entire Palestinian population of Gaza has been displaced, often multiple times.

Gaza has been under a total Israeli blockade since March 2 and is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli military resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18, thereby ending a two-month ceasefire.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in a radio interview on Tuesday, described Israel's plan to launch an offensive on Gaza as "unacceptable," asserting that Netanyahu's government was "in violation of humanitarian law."

Tragically, more than 52,500 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed in Gaza during Israel's brutal attack since October 2023.

In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Furthermore, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning its actions in the enclave.

Editor's Choice: World Leaders Condemn Israel's Plan to 'Conquer' Gaza

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

World Leaders Condemn Israel's Plan to 'Conquer' Gaza

2 jam lalu

Israel Approves Plan to Expand Gaza Onslaught, Occupy Territories

8 jam lalu

Yemeni Houthis Announce Airspace Blockade Against Israel

1 hari lalu

Iran Pledges Retaliation for Any US or Israeli Military Action

1 hari lalu

Israel Vows Retaliation Following Houthi Strike on Main Airport

1 hari lalu

Pope Francis' Popemobile Transformed into Mobile Clinic for Gaza Children

1 hari lalu

Yemen's Houthi Missile Hits Israel's Ben Gurion Airport

1 hari lalu

Turkish Jets Interfere with Israeli Strikes in Syria

2 hari lalu

UNICEF: Gaza Children at Risk of Death as Israel's Aid Blockade Continues

3 hari lalu

Drone Attack Targets Aid Ship Bound for Gaza Near Malta

3 hari lalu