A United Nations official said the largest hospital in south Gaza could soon stop functioning. Credit: Reuters
Hamas says no more hostage releases until Israel ends war
Hamas says that Palestinian groups have rejected the prospect of further hostage releases until Israel agrees to end the war in Gaza, BBC reports.
The statement was released as talks in Cairo continue over reaching a new truce in the war
But Israel has repeatedly rejected a permanent ceasefire, with its national security minister saying ending the war before Hamas is defeated would constitute a “failure”
More than 240 Israeli hostages were captured during Hamas’s 7 October attacks, with more than 100 of them released in a previous truce in November
The UN Security Council is again due to a hold vote on “urgent humanitarian pauses” in Gaza after the previous vote was postponed on Wednesday
Meanwhile, Israeli forces say they’ve uncovered a network of tunnels in the heart of Gaza City with entrances connected to the houses of Hamas leaders
On Wednesday, the Hamas-run Gaza government said 20,000 people had been killed there since Israel launched its military campaign against the group
Israel began its campaign in Gaza after Hamas broke through the heavily-guarded perimeter with Israel on 7 October, killing 1,200 people.