Even as Israel expanded its ground operation in Gaza, the Hamas said on Saturday that they were about to reach an agreement with Tel Aviv over the exchange of hostages, but the latter stalled on that possibility.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for Palestinian militant group, said in a video statement that they would release the hostages only if Israel freed all Palestinian prisoners.
Ubaida added that Hamas can also hold talks over a "partial" agreement over the captives, reported Reuters.
Meanwhile, Israel sent more tanks and infantry to Gaza on Saturday as it expanded its ground operation.
Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant said the war against Hamas had entered a “new stage” as he dropped hints at an impending all-out ground offensive in northern Gaza.
“We moved to the next stage in the war. Last evening, the ground shook in Gaza. We attacked above ground and underground. ... The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice,” said Gallant.
The heavy bombardment has severed the entire communications systems, cutting off the enclave's 2.3 million people from rest of the world. Gaza's phone and internet services have been almost completely cut since Friday evening.
Experts fear that the new scenario will help Israel control the narrative in the new stage of fighting.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 7,700 people have lost their lives in the war since October 7, majority of them being women and children.
The disruption communication network is likely to further raise the death toll with people having no way of calling ambulances or emergency teams.
Based on the distress calls it received, Gaza health ministry estimates that at least 1,700 people remain trapped beneath the rubble.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the blackout was blocking ambulances and evacuations of patients and denying people safe shelter.
Meanwhile, CNN reported on Saturday that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier has passed through the Strait of Gibraltar, entering the Mediterranean Sea.
It is now the second carrier strike group of the US in the Mediterranean.
