Hamas ends ceasefire talks until Israel halts Rafah operation and withdraws troops

Hamas has told international mediators it is ending its participation in ceasefire talks aimed at ending the war on Gaza, following Sunday's "massacre" in Rafah by Israel, a source close to the Palestinian organisation has told Middle East Eye.

At least 45 people were killed and dozens more wounded, most of them women and children, when Israel struck a camp housing displaced Palestinians in the Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood of western Rafah.

The air strikes, which resulted in some Palestinians being burned alive, came just two days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to "immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah".

A source close to Hamas told MEE on Tuesday that the Palestinian organisation had informed mediators it was ending its participation in negotiations until Israel ends its offensive on Rafah, withdraws its troops, and that the Rafah crossing, a critical entry point for food, medicine and other supplies for Gaza's 2.3 million people, is reopened under its previous administration.

Read more: Hamas ends ceasefire talks until Israel halts Rafah operation and withdraws troops