Hamas Withdraws from Truce Talks Amid Israel's Gaza Offensive

Hamas has declared it is withdrawing from truce talks with Israel, citing ongoing Israeli military operations and what it describes as a 'hunger war' against Gaza. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim stated that ceasefire negotiations are pointless while the Israeli offensive and blockade continue, urging the international community to pressure Israel to end the deprivation and violence. This announcement follows Israel’s approval of a new military plan that entails the displacement of most of Gaza’s population and the continued Israeli presence in the territory. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have already been displaced multiple times since the war began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has sharply deteriorated, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies under a total blockade since early March. The UN has expressed alarm at Israel’s expanded military plans, warning of further civilian casualties and destruction.