More than 400 people have been killed by Israel’s huge cuts in Gaza, with many women and children reported by health officials among the victims.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that future conversations with Hamas” may just take place under fire” and that the cuts were “only the end.”
Hamas claimed that Israel had threatened to retaliate by trying to reach a lasting deal with the conflict, but Hamas maintained that it still holds 59 of the roughly 250 hostages it claimed it held in its Oct. 7, 2023 harm.
The two parties came to an agreement on the next steps of a peace that started in January, with Hamas demanding conversations for a second phase that may result to a long-lasting peace.
Israel had pushed for an extension of the first step, cutting off Gaza’s supply of electricity and aid in the process.
The movement of humanitarian aid to Gaza should not be hampered. We request that all parties resume discussions aiming for a permanent ceasefire, according to the MFA director.