Two persons walk past a wall mural depicting destruction in the Gaza Strip in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday — AFP GAZA, May 06 (BBC/AFP): A senior Hamas official has said there is "no point" in further talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, after Israel approved an expanded offensive that may include seizing all of the Palestinian territory indefinitely.
Bassem Naim told the BBC the armed group would not engage with new proposals while Israel continued its "starvation war".
On Monday, the Israeli military said the aim of the "wide-scale" operation was the return of hostages held by Hamas and its "decisive defeat".
Israeli officials said it would involve "capturing" Gaza, displacing the majority of its population, and taking control of aid after a two-month blockade the UN says has caused severe food shortages.
The officials also said the offensive would not begin until after US President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week, giving Hamas what they called a "window of opportunity" to agree to a deal.
But Bassem Naim's comments on Tuesday seemed to counter that.
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that expanded Israeli ground operations and a prolonged military presence would "inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza".
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed deep concern at recent developments and agreed that "a renewed peace process was required", Downing Street said.
In Washington, President Trump said the US would help supply food to people in Gaza, without going into details.
"People are starving and we're going to help them get some food. A lot of people are making it very, very bad," he said. "Hamas is making it impossible because they're taking everything that's brought in."
Israel cut off all deliveries of aid and other supplies on 2 March and resumed its offensive two weeks later after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire, saying it was putting pressure on Hamas to release hostages.
China opposes Israel's
actions in Gaza
China on Tuesday said it opposed Israel's military actions in Gaza, after its armed forces said expanded operations in the territory would include displacing "most" of its population.
"China is highly concerned about the current Palestine-Israel situation," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, adding: "We oppose Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza, and hopes all parties continuously and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement."
France 'strongly' condemns
Israel's Gaza conquest plan
France's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Paris "very strongly" condemns Israel's new military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
His comments come a day after Israel's military said expanded operations in Gaza would include displacing "most" of its residents, after the country's security cabinet approved a plan that an Israeli official said will entail "the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories".
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