Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has reinforced its stance that negotiations on a new hostage or prisoner exchange will not begin this Sunday. Clashes between Hamas and the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip continue without pause, intensifying a crisis that has stretched on for weeks.
Hamas, in a statement cited by Israeli media outlet Ynetnews, said the group opposes any discussion about releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza until the assault on the Gaza Strip is fully halted and the conditions for Palestinian resistance are satisfied.
Pressure mounts from hostages’ families
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities claimed responsibility for the mistaken death of three hostages during a Saturday operation in Gaza. Families of the kidnapped have been pressing for a new ceasefire that would enable the return of their loved ones after 71 days of conflict. The Israeli government faces mounting public and political pressure to secure fresh humanitarian pauses amid ongoing fighting.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow for the deaths, promising lessons would be learned while maintaining that the military campaign would continue to pursue its objectives. He spoke shortly after relatives urged the government to push for a ceasefire as a path to liberate the captives.
4 people died in Israel’s attack on the West Bank
In the West Bank, four Palestinians died in a drone strike targeting the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem. The incident took place amid a broader campaign by Israeli forces to locate individuals suspected of links to Hamas. Local health authorities reported that the deaths brought the yearly tally of fatalities in this region to a high level, the highest since 2002. They noted that several youths perished due to the bombardment of the camp and the disruption of essential services during the operation.
Witnesses and medical officials also described delays in emergency responses, with ambulances hindered from reaching injured residents. The Palestinian Red Crescent condemned the restrictions on medical teams and the detention of a volunteer attempting to reach the scene to aid victims. The events underscore the fragile humanitarian situation in areas under dense military activity.
Since the start of the current operation, Israeli forces have intensified raids across the West Bank in pursuit of individuals suspected of belonging to or supporting groups involved in the violence against Israel. Authorities reported that more than 2,200 Palestinians have been detained, including a substantial number with alleged links to Hamas. The situation continues to pose serious risks to civilians and complicates any prospects for a swift regional de-escalation. This report reflects ongoing assessments from multiple regional monitoring groups and health ministries assessing the human cost of the renewed clashes. (Sources: regional health ministries, field reporters, and press briefings from the involved authorities.)