Hamas says ‘no point’ to talks as Israel plans expanded Gaza offensive

A senior Hamas official has said there is “no point” in further talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal after Israel said it would expand its ground offensive and occupy Gaza indefinitely.

Bassem Naim told the BBC the Palestinian armed group would not engage with new proposals while Israel continued what he called its “starvation war”.

Israel says its objective is the return of hostages still held by Hamas and its “dismantling and decisive defeat”.

Israeli officials said on Monday that the plans involved displacing the majority of Gaza’s 2.1 million population, seizing all of the territory, and taking control of humanitarian aid after a two-month blockade.

They 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.

Britain, France and the UN have criticised Israel’s new plans.

UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed alarm and warned it would “inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza”.

UN agencies and their partners have also condemned Israel’s proposal to deliver aid through private companies at military hubs, saying it would be a breach of basic humanitarian principles and that they would not co-operate.