Israel 'responsible' for not extending humanitarian pause in Gaza: Hamas

By Muhammed Majid

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, said Saturday it holds Israel responsible for the non-extension of a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip.

The group asserted that Israel failed to positively engage with offers presented by the mediators.

“The Israeli occupation continues to reiterate its false claims regarding the justifications for resuming its aggressive war against our people,” Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' political bureau said in a statement.

Israel propagates baseless narratives, including allegations of missile launches from the Gaza Strip and other baseless claims, he added.

He noted that the narrative of the Nazi-like occupation since it violated a pause agreement aims to cover up its insidious intent to resume its brutal assaults against innocent civilians.

Israel prohibited aid trucks from entering the Gaza Strip on Friday through the Rafah border crossing and resumed its devastating attacks on the Palestinian enclave after announcing the end of a humanitarian pause that lasted for one week.

At least 193 Palestinians have been killed and 652 injured since Friday in Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

* Writing by Mohammad Sio​​​​​​​