GAZA: Hamas says new Israeli ground Op will be crushed; tantamount to sacrifice of its own hostages. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim has said the group is not prepared to engage in any ceasefire negotiations with Israel as long as the ongoing military operations in Gaza persist.
Speaking to AFP, Naim stated, “There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip.”
The statement came in response to a new ultimatum issued by Israel on Monday, following a high-level meeting of its security cabinet the night before.
The ultimatum demands that Hamas agree to a proposed ceasefire plan, which includes the release of 10 hostages in exchange for a 45-day truce. Failure to comply, Israeli officials warned, will result in a significantly expanded military campaign in Gaza.
As per Israeli press, a senior Israeli political source outlined the proposed strategy, which involves seizing and holding territory in Gaza, moving civilians south for their protection, cutting off Hamas from humanitarian aid, and launching intensified strikes to dismantle the militant group’s operational capabilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the new plan, describing it as a strategic shift from targeted raids to full territorial control. “This plan can achieve our two main objectives: defeating Hamas and securing the release of our hostages,” he said.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread destruction and a growing humanitarian crisis as military operations continue.
Hamas has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to expand ground operations in Gaza, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sacrificing Israeli hostages and committing further war crimes under U.S. patronage.
Hamas declared that further negotiations with Israel are now meaningless. “Netanyahu has chosen to abandon his captives by announcing a ground invasion. This decision proves that Israel is not serious about their release,” the group said.
Responding to Israel’s latest military strategy, Hamas claimed that the plan will fail like previous attempts over the past 18 months. “What Israel could not achieve in a year and a half, it will not achieve now. This new plan, like the others, will be crushed,” the statement read.
The remarks come as Israeli forces continue their aggressive military campaign across the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian health authorities, 56 more Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours, amid escalating air and ground attacks.
Hamas further accused Netanyahu of committing war crimes with American backing, warning that continued aggression would only deepen the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region.
The situation remains tense as international calls for restraint grow louder, but a resolution appears distant amid hardline stances on both sides.
