Tel Aviv, 26 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Israel and Hamas on Wednesday accused each other of obstructing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, after Israel withdrew its negotiators from the talks the previous day.

Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the refusal by the Palestinian Islamist militia Hamas to hand over a list of the names of the hostages it still holds is hindering progress in the negotiations.

After more than a week of intensive negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office recalled the country's negotiators on Tuesday, saying there should be internal consultations on the continuation of the negotiations.

According to the reports, Hamas sources said they were prepared to hand over a list of hostages who could be released in a first phase following the ceasefire, but refused a demand by Israel to provide a complete list of the 100 hostages who are supposedly still alive.

Hamas in turn accused Israel of blocking the negotiations.

In a press release on Wednesday the group said Israel "introduced new conditions related to the issues of the withdrawal [from Gaza], the ceasefire, the prisoners, and the return of the displaced people, leading to the delay in reaching an agreement that was within reach."

The militia said it "has demonstrated responsibility and flexibility."

Netanyahu's office responded to the accusations: "The Hamas terrorist organization continues to lie, is reneging on understandings that have already been reached, and is continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations."

Despite this, it said, "Israel will continue its relentless efforts to return all of our hostages."

IDF strikes Hamas fighters in northern Gaza

The Israeli military said late on Wednesday that it had launched another strike against Hamas militants in northern Gaza.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the attack targeted Hamas fighters who were planning a drone strike on Israeli forces near Gaza City, located in the northern part of the sealed-off coastal strip.

The military said it had taken numerous measures to reduce the risk to civilians before the attack.

The IDF did not provide any information regarding potential casualties. The information could not be independently verified.

IDF targets Hamas member in Gaza humanitarian zone

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli Air Force targeted a Hamas terrorist in a humanitarian protection zone in the Gaza Strip, the military announced on its Telegram channel.

It said the man was active in the area of the city of Khan Younis in the south of the sealed-off coastal strip. Prior to the "precise attack," numerous measures were taken to minimize the risk to civilians, the IDF said.

The military did not provide information about possible casualties. Their statements could not be independently verified.

The IDF described this as another example of the systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure and humanitarian protection zones by Hamas, stating that this violated international law.

The Israeli military repeatedly accuses the Islamist terrorists in the embattled Gaza Strip of using civilians as human shields.