SAFA -  Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the Israeli assault on the beach in Gaza City that killed and wounded many Palestinians, including women and children, is a reflection of the Israeli government’s indifference to repeated calls to end its genocidal campaign and declare a ceasefire.

In a statement Tuesday, Qassem said the Israeli attack came despite appeals from mediators and guarantor countries seeking to prevent further escalation, including a call by U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday for a ceasefire.

He called on mediators, guarantor states, and, in particular, the U.S. administration to assume responsibility and pressure the Israeli occupation forces to comply with the ceasefire agreement and the recently agreed roadmap.

Qassem stressed the need for concrete measures to ensure respect for the agreement and an end to attacks, warning that continued Israeli escalation undermines efforts to consolidate the truce and bring the war in the Gaza Strip to an end.

He said the latest attack highlights the urgency of international action to prevent further escalation and ensure that commitments to halt Israeli hostilities are upheld.

The Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip daily through ongoing shelling, demolitions, and gunfire targeting various areas across the enclave. Since the ceasefire went into effect, Israeli occupation violations have resulted in 1,266 Palestinian victims and 4,200 injuries, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. 

73,400 Palestinians have been killed and 174,312 have been injured since Israel began its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023.