Israel’s onslaught on the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave entered its 200th day on Tuesday.
A spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, has accused Israel of hindering efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
In a recorded speech, Ubaida said, “The enemy has done nothing over the past 200 days except commit massacres, destruction and mass killings.
“The so-called Israeli military pressure will only push us to maintain our positions and preserve the rights of our people.
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“We will not compromise on the basic rights of the Palestinian people, including halting the Israeli aggression, the withdrawal of the Israeli army, the return of the displaced to their areas, reconstruction, and lifting the blockade.
“Israel is trying to deceive the world into believing that they have eliminated all resistance groups, which is a pure lie,” he added.
Hamas demands an end to Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza in return for an agreement for a Gaza cease-fire and hostage swap with Tel Aviv.
Israel has killed at least 34,183 people and wounded over 77,143 others as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and near-total destruction of infrastructure haunt the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israel launched its brutal military offensive on October 7 following a deadly attack by Hamas fighters. Some 1,139 people were killed and about 240 were taken captive by the Palestinian fighters.
Nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced and more than 14,000 children have been killed in the offensive which critics have dubbed a war of vengeance.
