A senior Hamas official has declared that there is “no point in continuing negotiations for a new ceasefire or hostage release deal, following Israel’s approval of an expanded military operation that could see it seize full control of the Gaza Strip.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.
Bassem Naim, a senior figure within the Palestinian militant group, told the BBC that Hamas would not engage with any fresh proposals while Israel persisted with what he described as a starvation war against Gaza’s population. His comments reflect a hardened stance from Hamas at a time when diplomatic efforts appear to be reaching a dead end.
The Israeli military announced on Monday that its aim is to launch a wide-scale operation in Gaza, with the dual goals of securing the return of hostages and achieving the “decisive defeat” of Hamas. Israeli officials further revealed that the planned offensive could result in the displacement of most of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents and a long-term Israeli military presence throughout the territory.
As part of the proposed operation, Israel would assume control over the delivery and distribution of aid within Gaza. This follows a two-month blockade that has already led to severe food shortages, with the United Nations warning of imminent mass starvation if conditions do not change.
According to Israeli officials, the ground operation will not commence until after U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the region next week. They said the delay would provide Hamas with a final “window of opportunity” to accept a deal, though Naim’s rejection on Tuesday suggests such an outcome is increasingly unlikely.
The international community has responded with alarm to the escalation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that an expanded Israeli offensive and a prolonged military occupation would inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza. He urged restraint and renewed efforts toward a political resolution.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern over recent developments, agreeing in a joint statement that a renewed peace process was required” to prevent further catastrophe and chart a path toward long-term stability in the region.
In Washington, President Trump pledged that the United States would take steps to supply food to the people of Gaza, although he provided few details. People are starving and we’re going to help them get some food,” he said. A lot of people are making it very, very bad. Hamas is making it impossible because they’re taking everything that’s brought in.
Israel halted all deliveries of aid and other essential supplies on 2 March, and resumed its offensive two weeks later following the collapse of a temporary two month ceasefire. Israeli officials have defended the move, saying the pressure is necessary to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas. The Israeli government has also accused Hamas of stealing and stockpiling aid a claim the group has repeatedly denied.
Humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza have issued dire warnings about the looming threat of mass starvation. They have strongly criticized Israel’s plan to deliver aid through private contractors based at military hubs, saying such a method would violate fundamental humanitarian principles. Several agencies have announced they will not cooperate under such conditions.
The United Nations has emphasized that under international law, Israel bears the responsibility to ensure the flow of food, water, and medical supplies to Gaza’s civilian population. In response, Israel maintains that it is in compliance with international legal standards and denies any systematic shortage of aid in the territory.
Israel’s current military campaign stems from Hamas’s unprecedented cross-border assault on 7 October 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. The attack shocked Israel and prompted a months-long military response aimed at dismantling Hamas’s infrastructure and influence in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, at least 52,567 people have been killed in the territory since the start of the conflict, with 2,459 of those deaths occurring since Israel resumed its offensive operations. The staggering toll continues to rise as bombardments and fighting intensify, raising concerns about the long-term consequences of the conflict for Gaza’s civilian population and the broader region.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, calls for a renewed diplomatic push are growing louder, but the road to any lasting solution remains fraught with political and humanitarian obstacles. For now, the prospect of peace appears increasingly distant, as both sides brace for what could be a decisive and devastating phase of the war.
