Israel is ramping up military pressure on Hamas over the group's refusal to free Israeli hostages, continuing airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and launching a partial ground operation in the enclave.



A Hamas official, meanwhile, told France's AFP news agency that the group remained open to talks, indicating it will seek to establish a ceasefire through negotiations.



He said, "We have no conditions, but we demand that the occupation be compelled to immediately halt its aggression and war of extermination, and begin the second phase of negotiations."



Against this backdrop, Gaza health authorities reported that 436 people died in the latest attacks.



The health authorities also said Israeli forces attacked a UN premise in the central Gaza Strip, killing one official and injuring five others.



The Israeli military denies striking the compound.



As talks on transitioning to the second phase of the ceasefire remain stalled, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that further negotiations will take place under fire.