Hamas claims Israeli troops remain truce sticking point as Gaza clashes intensify

Gaza’s Civil Defence Report 52 Victims in Israeli Strikes
26 August 2025 – Gaza’s civil‑defence agency stated 52 people were killed during a wave of Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and shooting on Thursday.
Hamas Opposes Ceasefire if Israeli Military Remains in Gaza
- Hamas said it rejects any ceasefire deal that allows a sizeable Israeli military presence in Gaza.
- On Thursday, the group confirmed it will release 10 hostages seized during its October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war.
- Both sides have been holding indirect talks in Qatar to agree a temporary halt in the conflict. The United States hopes for a 60‑day truce in the coming days.
Key Points of the Hamas Statement
- Disagreements over the free flow of aid into Gaza and Israel’s military withdrawal remain sticking points.
- Hamas demands “real guarantees” for lasting peace.
- Senior official Bassem Naim stated the group is committed to ending the war as soon as possible, but it cannot accept the perpetuation of occupation.
- The group is opposed to Israeli control over Rafah and the Morag Corridor between southern Gaza and Khan Yunis.
Israel Seizes Large Areas to Pressure Hamas
Israel announced earlier this year that it was seizing large areas in Gaza, incorporating them into buffer zones cleared of their inhabitants, as a way of pressuring Hamas to release hostages.
Hamas Calls for End of US‑Israel‑Backed Aid Delivery
Hamas wants an end to the current aid delivery system, which has seen scores killed while seeking handouts, and plans to restrict the flow of internationally backed aid. This is the system that has killed dozens while seeking handouts.
Unanswered Questions About Hostage Release
- Hamas has given no timeline for the release of hostages or indications about the return of the bodies of nine detainees that Israel says have died in captivity.
- The announcement came as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrapped up a visit this week to the United States that focused heavily on the ceasefire talks.
Netanyahu’s Uncompromising Stance Lowered by Recent Meetings
Under pressure at home to end the war as military casualties increase, Netanyahu was initially uncompromising in his bid to crush Hamas and neutralise it as a security threat to Israel. However, after two high‑profile meetings with Donald Trump, he indicated that a temporary truce deal could be on the horizon.
Gaza’s Ground Reality: Civilian Casualties Continue to Rise
- There was no let‑up in civilian casualties on Thursday, with the civil defence agency reporting 52 killed in Israeli strikes and shooting across the embattled territory.
- Agency official Mohammed al‑Mughair said that in the deadliest strike, eight children were among 17 killed when Israeli aircraft targeted a “gathering of civilians in front of a medical point” in Deir el‑Balah.
- Separate strikes and shooting were reported elsewhere across Gaza, with people displaced by the 21‑month conflict among the casualties as well as three people near an aid centre.
Death Toll Around the Clock
The deaths cap another bloody week in Gaza, after the authorities reported at least 29 were killed on Wednesday, 26 on Tuesday and 12 on Monday. Overall, the health ministry in Hamas‑run Gaza said at least 57,680 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the conflict.
Impact on Israel’s Border Communities
Hamas’s attacks on border communities in Israel that sparked the war led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.
Hostage Situation
A total of 251 hostages were seized in the attack. Forty‑nine are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.