Hamas calls for ‘serious steps’ to end Israeli blockade of Gaza

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip, calling on the international community to take practical steps to end the occupying regime’s siege in the besieged enclave.

Hamas made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, as Israel has been preventing the entry of all lifesaving supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel into Gaza for seven weeks in a row.

The resistance movement said the Israeli blockade comes in addition to the military “targeting water wells and desalination plants, and obstructing relief operations and food distribution centers.”

Hamas urged the international community to take serious action to stop the Israeli regime’s policy of mass starvation, ensure the access of humanitarian aid to civilians in the blockaded territory.

The group reiterated its call on Arab and Muslim countries to stop the “unjust” blockade of Gaza.

60,000 Palestinian children starve as Israel continues blockade of Gaza

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that at least 60,000 children in Gaza suffer from severe heath issues that stem from starvation.

Since March 2, the Israeli regime has closed off all crossings into Gaza and blocked the entry of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and water.

According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Israel’s ongoing siege of the region has had a “devastating impact” on children in the enclave.

Hamas rejects Israeli truce disarmament proposal

Meanwhile, Hamas has reportedly rejected an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza which called for the resistance group to give up its weapons.

Israel’s proposal for a ceasefire is "completely rejected by consensus among all factions" and is non-negotiable, due to its conditions of disarming the group, a Hamas leader said.

Hamas also said the proposal failed to provide clear guarantees to end the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas says Israel ‘narrowing truce’, stresses any new deal must end Gaza genocide

Hamas warns it would reject any agreement that does not lead to a permanent end to the conflict in Gaza.

This comes as Hamas is currently engaged in negotiations in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

High-ranking Hamas official Basem Naim has stated that talks held in Cairo concentrated on halting the Israeli aggression, reopening the border crossings of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and establishing a committee to manage governance during the post-war phase.

The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing hundreds of people, injuring many others, and shattering the ceasefire agreement with the Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives from Palestinian prisoners.

According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 50,944 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 116,156 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

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