Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem told Sputnik on Sunday that a truce with Israel was now out of the question as Israel was "escalating the war," adding that the negotiations for the release of the Israeli captives will take place after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood is over.
"The [Israel's] occupation is now in the midst of its aggression against civilians. There can be no talk of a truce while Israel is escalating this war," Qasem told Sputnik.
The Hamas spokesman also said that it was premature to talk about mediating the conflict because "the battlefield determines who controls the situation." He added that negotiations over captured Israeli soldiers would take place after the end of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
"The talks about the captured Israeli soldiers will take place after the end of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle," Qasem said, adding that the issue is the responsibility of the Al-Qassam Brigades.