David Gritten
A senior Hamas official has said the armed group is not interested in further talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal while Israel continues what he called its "starvation war".
Israel cut off all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza nine weeks ago and later resumed its military offensive, saying it was putting pressure on Hamas to release hostages.
But Bassem Naim said there was "no point in any negotiations" while the blockade remained in place.
His comments came after Israel's security cabinet approved an expanded offensive which could see the forced displacement of most of Gaza's 2.1 million population and occupation of all of the Palestinian territory indefinitely.
Israel also intends to replace the current aid delivery and distribution system with one channelled through private companies and military hubs.
The UN's humanitarian office has rejected that idea, saying it does not live up to fundamental humanitarian principles and "appears to be a deliberate attempt to weaponize the aid".
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