Hamas says Gaza aid block impacts Israeli hostages

Hamas has said in a statement that Israel's decision to halt aid to Gaza for the seventh day is tantamount to the "war crime of collective punishment".

Israel blocked all aid entering Gaza following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement after Hamas refused to accept the extension of the first stage of the truce.

On Saturday, the group said in a statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government was "committing the war crime of collective punishment against over two million Palestinian civilians through starvation and the deprivation of basic life necessities for the seventh consecutive day".

It added that the repercussions of this are also felt by Israeli captives "who are also affected by the lack of food, medicine and healthcare"