Hamas will no longer engage in cease-fire negotiations with Israel, seeing no interest in doing so “as long as the war of hunger and the war of extermination” continues on the Gaza Strip, according to the senior official of the Palestinian group.
Basem Naim told the AFP news agency on Tuesday that the international community was to put pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the “hunger, thirst and murders” in Gaza.
“There is no sense to engage in talks or to consider new proposals as a ceasefire as long as the war of hunger and the war of extermination continue in the Gaza Strip,” he said.
Naim’s remarks occurred one day after Netanyahu said that the population of the enclave “will be moved” in a next military operation extended by Israeli forces which would lead to “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the detention of the territories”.
Almost every 2.3 million Gaza residents were moved several times since Israel began his war against the Palestinian enclave in October 2023.
Total blockage
The humanitarian situation of the Gaza Strip has become more and more disastrous because a total blockade was imposed by Israel on March 2, causing generalized food shortages while Israel performs fatal attacks across the enclave.
The Khoudary Hinding of Tel Aviv Tribune, postponing Deir El-Balah, in the center of Gaza, said that the Palestinians “have trouble finding food to feed their children” with some “forced to eat expired or rotten foods”, while others cannot find any form of subsistence.
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRC) said this week that food supplies in Gaza have now been “completely exhausted” in local markets and humanitarian distribution centers.
“The population is again at extreme risk of famine,” said the PRCS in its last update of the situation. “There is an inability to meet even minimum daily needs of more than a million displaced people.”
According to PRCs, only “limited quantities of legumes” are currently distributed to community kitchens, because all of the previously stored aid have been exhausted.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has echoed these concerns, calling for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid and the warning against its politicization.
“The level of need among civilians in Gaza at the moment is overwhelming,” said ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon.
“Under international humanitarian law, Israel has the obligation to use all the means available to guarantee that the basic needs of the civilian population under its control are satisfied,” he added.
Awad, 39, who lives in a southern tent of Gaza, the city of Khan Younis, told Tel Aviv Tribune on Monday that “Israel did not stop war, murder, bombing, destruction, siege and famine – every day – so how can they speak of expanding military operations?
“I call the world to attend the famine growing and spreads every day,” he said.
Aya Al-Skafy, a resident of Gaza City, told Tel Aviv Tribune on Monday that her baby died due to malnutrition and drug shortages last week.
“She was four months old and weighed 2.8 kg (6.2 lb). Due to severe malnutrition, it has suffered from blood acidity, hepatic and renal failure and many other complications. Her hair and nails also fell due to malnutrition. ”
Israeli plans
According to disclosed plans, the Israeli government wanted to seriously restrict the way food is distributed in Gaza and proposes that US companies are distributing the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
As part of the plan, Palestinian families would be authorized to take a food package per week in poles designated in the south of Gaza, and Israel would allow 60 trucks to enter the Gaza Strip every day – just a tenth of what is necessary, according to experts.
The UN aid groups have rejected this plan, saying that it is a pressure tactic to further strengthen the control of vital supplies.
