Hamas expresses disinterest in continuing negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
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GAZA CITY (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES) — A high-ranking Hamas official declared bluntly on Tuesday that the organization has no intention of engaging in ceasefire discussions with Israel, pointing to the ongoing starvation siege and extermination campaign against Gazans as a core reason for their stance.
Basem Naim, a Hamas political bureau member and former Gaza health minister, shared his thoughts with Agence France-Presse (AFP), stating: "Talks or new ceasefire proposals are pointless as long as Israel's brutal hunger war and merciless extermination war persist in Gaza."
Naim urged the international community to press for an immediate end to the Israeli government's unrelenting "crimes of starvation, thirst, and murder" in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
His strong words came on the heels of Israel's military revealing its intention to intensify operations in Gaza, with the displacement of "the vast majority" of its residents being a key component of the plan[1][2][4]. In a surprising move, the Israeli military has also stated that the primary goal of this fresh offensive includes "the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the subsequent control of the occupied territories."
Since the upper echelons of Israeli leadership approved the military's proposal for expanded operations on March 19, almost the entire population of Gaza has been displaced repeatedly since the war's outbreak following Hamas's violent attack on Israel on October 7, 2023[3].
Gaza has been under a full-scale Israeli blockade ever since March 2 and grapples with a dire humanitarian crisis. Israel rekindled its offensive against the Gaza Strip on March 18, effectively ending a two-month truce.
Palestinian officials reported three fatalities, including a young girl, on Tuesday as a result of the early morning Israeli attacks across Gaza.
The United Nations (UN) broke its silence on Monday, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressing alarm over the Israeli plan that would undoubtedly lead to unprovoked violence resulting in "countless more civilian casualties and the imminent destruction of Gaza."
Farhan Haq, a UN spokesperson, evocatively emphasized, "Gaza is, and must remain, an essential part of a future Palestinian state."
The impending crisis is exacerbated by humanitarian concerns, as UN agencies and aid organizations have raised red flags over the mounting food shortages and the threat of famine returning to Gaza.
Israel's aggressive approach includes a central strategic maneuver that aims for a mass evacuation of Gazan civilians from combat zones and relocation to southern Gaza areas for their supposed safety. Military spokesman Effie Defrin elaborated, "The planned offensive will encompass the displacement of the bulks of the Gaza Strip's population... to safeguard them."
The perceived brutality of Israel's proposed actions has sparked sever criticism. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described Israel's plans for a Gaza offensive as "unacceptable," further accusing the Israeli leadership of being in violation of international humanitarian law[2].
For Gazans, any forced displacement digs up painful memories of the "Nakba," the devastating mass displacement that occurred during the war that culminated in Israel's establishment in 1948.
As of May 6, 2025, the death toll originating from Israel's renewed campaign since March 18 now stands at 2,459, taking the overall death toll from the conflict to a staggering 52,567[4].
Hamas's instigation of the conflict on October 7, 2023, resulted in the loss of 1,218 lives on the Israeli side, mainly civilians, as reported by AFP[4].
At present, 58 individuals are being held captive by militants abducted during the conflict on October 7, 2023, 34 of whom are allegedly deceased, according to the Israeli military[4].
- The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has urged the international community to intervene in the ongoing crisis in Gaza, expressing concern over Israel's plan to intensify operations and the potential for more civilian casualties.
- In a press conference, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called Israel's proposed actions in Gaza "unacceptable," accusing the Israeli leadership of violating international humanitarian law.
- The Hamas political bureau, in light of Israel's continued blockade and attacks on Gaza, has stated that they are not open to ceasefire discussions as long as these conditions persist.
- The Gaza Strip, currently under a full-scale Israeli blockade, has been grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis and a scale of violence reminiscent of the "Nakba" of 1948, with the death toll reaching 52,567 since the conflict began, according to recent reports.
