Hamas has warned that Israel “bears responsibility” for the fate of Israeli prisoners still held in the Gaza Strip after the regime suspended the entry of humanitarian aid.
“The occupation [Israel] bears responsibility for the consequences of its decision on the population of the Gaza Strip and for the fate of its prisoners,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement on Sunday.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, expired on Saturday. Israel has refused to enter negotiations on the second stage, under which the remaining 59 Israeli prisoners would be released and a permanent truce would be established.
Israeli authorities have instead called for an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, a request Hamas has rejected.
The Israeli military resumed its attacks on Gaza on Sunday, killing at least four Palestinians across the enclave, according to medical sources. Israel says all its prisoners must be returned for the fighting to stop.
In a statement, Israel warned Hamas that there would be “consequences” if the Palestinian group did not agree to extend the now-ended phase one of the ceasefire in keeping with a proposal put forward by the United States presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff.
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