Izzat El-Risheq, a member of the political bureau of Hamas, on Sunday denied media reports that the group has withdrawn from talks on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release.

The response came after the AFP news agency reported that Hamas is pulling out of the talks because of Israeli "massacres" and its attitude in negotiations, citing an anonymous senior Hamas official.

Reshiq also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to derail efforts by Arab mediators and the United States to reach a ceasefire deal.

The escalation in attacks by Netanyahu and his government aims to thwart efforts to end the ongoing conflict, Reshiq said.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday at least 38,584 people have been killed in the conflict so far. The toll includes 141 deaths in the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 88,881 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since violence flared after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year.

Two Egyptian security sources at ceasefire negotiations in Doha and Cairo said on Saturday that negotiations had been halted after three days of intense back-and-forth communication.

(With input from Reuters)