MSF says Gaza turning into 'mass grave' as Hamas rejects Israel proposal to disarm

Leading medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has said that the war-battered Gaza Strip has turned into a "mass grave" for Palestinians and those trying to help them, as a result of Israel’s renewed attacks and siege.

In a statement on Wednesday, MSF said Palestinians lives are once again being "systematically destroyed" due to the deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid, renewed attacks and forced displacement, which comes after Israel resumed its military offensive on 18 March, effectively ending a two-month ceasefire in place since January.

More than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed since, while the death toll has surpassed 51,000, according to Gaza's health ministry.

"We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza," Amande Bazerolle, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza said on Wednesday.

"With nowhere safe for Palestinians or those trying to help them, the humanitarian response is severely struggling under the weight of insecurity and critical supply shortages, leaving people with few, if any, options for accessing care," she added.

The charity urged Israeli authorities to "immediately lift the inhumane and deadly siege on Gaza, protect the lives of Palestinians, humanitarian and medical personnel, and for all parties to restore and sustain the ceasefire".

According to the United Nations, at least 409 aid workers, most of whom were UNWRA staff, have been killed since October 2023. Eleven MSF workers have also been killed since the start of the war, including two this month.

Hamas slams Israel's 'disarmament' proposal

Hamas and other Palestinian factions said on Tuesday that any ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that doesn’t guarantee an end to the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops would constitute a "political trap that enshrines the army rather than resisting it".

"We have followed the news circulating about the new ceasefire proposal, which includes a clause on disarming the resistance and handing over prisoners [captives] to the occupation without any real guarantees for ending the war of extermination against our people and a complete withdrawal," the group said in a statement on Telegram.

The statement added: "We reject the logic that exaggerates the primitive weapon of the 'victim' [in reference to themselves] intended only for self-defence, at a time when the United States is announcing the delivery of a large batch of lethal weapons and heavy bombs to the murderous occupation, which are being dropped on the heads of our defenceless people."

Hamas described the demands to disarm as a "major deception" as "the core of the problem lies in the Israeli army's evasion of implementing the three-stage agreement that the Palestinian side agreed to and committed to".

Hamas’ statement came after they rejected an Israel ceasefire proposal on Tuesday which would require them to give up their arms.

Israel’s proposal also included a 45-day ceasefire which would see the release of five captives, in exchange for 611 Palestinians detained from war-hit Gaza and 66 Palestinian prisoners from elsewhere.

While Hamas said it is open to relinquishing its governance over the Gaza Strip in a post-war plan for the enclave, the group said disarming is "a million red lines and is not subject to consideration, let alone discussion".

As Israel’s offensive continues and ceasefire proposal talks falter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited north Gaza on Tuesday, accompanied by the Defence Minister Israel Katz, a military commander and other senior officials.

Netanyahu's office quoted him as saying in a meeting with soldiers: "Israel is determined to release the captives and is determined to achieve all the goals of the war, and we are doing this thanks to our heroic fighters."

The statement did not specify the location in northern Gaza visited by Netanyahu, nor did it address Hamas's announcement that it had lost contact with a group holding captive Israeli-American Edan Alexander, after the military bombed their location.

Israel offensive kills Palestinian woman photographer

On Wednesday morning, Israeli airstrikes hitting northern parts of the enclave including Gaza City killed at least 23 Palestinians, including photographer Fatima Hassouna after her family home was targeted.

Tributes have poured in for the photographer on social media following the attack. The Al-Ihsan volunteer campaign said on X the organisation is mourning the passing of "its creative, philanthropist daughter".

"Fatima, who spared no effort in extending a helping hand to people, assisting them and staying with them, in documenting their lives, words, images and their voices, has passed away".

The strikes come as Israel has vowed to keep its troops in Gaza, as well as Lebanon and Syria, "indefinitely" in violation of international law.