Following the end of a week-long ceasefire:

“The Zionist occupation bears accountability for reigniting the genocidal war and Nazi aggression against the Gaza Strip, persistently rejecting offers throughout the night for the release of detainees.

“Throughout the night, indirect negotiations unfolded to extend the truce, within which we proposed exchanges involving prisoners and elderly people, as well as the handover of bodies of Israeli detainees who lost their lives due to Zionist bombings. Hamas also offered to transfer the Bibas family’s bodies and release their father for their burial, along with two Zionist detainees. However, the occupation, driven by a predetermined decision to resume criminal aggression, remained unresponsive.

“The Biden administration and President Biden in person shoulder full responsibility for the continuation of Zionist war crimes in the Gaza Strip with their unwavering support and the green light they gave to the occupation thanks to the Secretary of State Blinken’s recent visit to the Zionist entity. The American approval of the occupation’s new plans to resume aggression has already resulted in the killing of dozens of innocent civilians and children.

“We assert that our steadfast Palestinian people, firmly rooted in their homeland and supported by the valiant Al-Qassam Brigades actively countering aggression on all fronts while resuming heroic operations, will certainly thwart this criminal aggression.

“Our steadfast people, facing the US-backed Zionist terror army, will prevail, asserting their indomitable will against the defeated occupation army.”Hamas statement, Hamas Online Telegram Channel, December 1, 2023.