Hamas says ready for 'serious' Gaza ceasefire talks
Hamas said it was ready to enter a new round of talks aimed at bringing about a permanent ceasefire in Gaza where Palestinians continue to face relentless Israeli bombardment and crushing shortages.
The group's lead negotiator Khalil Al Hayya made the remarks in a speech marking the start of Eid Al Adha as Gazans observe another religious holiday at war.
"We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," Mr Al Hayya said, adding that the group was still in contact with mediators. Talks aimed at bringing about a new truce have failed to reach a breakthrough since the last brief ceasefire collapsed in March when Israel resumed attacks in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month but no progress was made after the US criticised the group's response to its proposal for a deal.
The group submitted its response to the Gaza truce plan presented by Washington's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. It neither accepted nor rejected the deal, but Mr Witkoff called the response 'totally unacceptable'. He said it 'only takes us backwards' and called on Hamas to accept the US proposal.
Mr Al Hayya said the group had not actually rejected Mr Witkoff's proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire following any hostage release. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to blame for the impasse.
The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday demanding an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' in Gaza and full humanitarian access.
Amid attempts to reach a deal and repeated international calls to end the war, Israel has significantly stepped up its campaign in Gaza. On Thursday afternoon, the enclave's civil defence said at least 37 people had been killed in strikes across the Strip.
The World Health Organisation warned Gaza's health system was "collapsing" and urged for the protection of the last remaining hospitals. The WHO said the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital risk becoming "non-functional" because of restrictions on aid and access routes.
Israeli authorities have informed Gaza's health ministry that access routes to the two facilities will be blocked, the WHO added.
After nearly 20 months of war sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Gaza has been turned into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises with civilians enduring Israeli bombardment, mass displacement and looming famine.
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