Recognition of a Palestinian state would be too great a reward for Hamas, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, repeating his call for the release of hostages - dead or alive - still held by the militant group in Gaza.

Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said she has "utterly condemned" Hamas and said both Israel and Hamas have "committed war crimes". Connolly described Palestinian militant group Hamas as "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people" when speaking on BBC Radio Ulster Talkback programme on Tuesday.

Macron, meeting Trump at the United Nations, says that Israel’s killing of Hamas leaders was a “great achievement” but adds: “You have as many Hamas fighters as you had the first day. So it doesn’t work to dismantle Hamas. This is not the right way to proceed. So we need a full-fledged process.”

More than half of Gaza City's residents have evacuated the area as Israel Defense Forces continue their offensive in what they call a Hamas stronghold.

The mother of a freed British-Israeli hostage has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "rewarding" Hamas after the UK government said it would formally recognise a Palestinian state.

Some Israeli officials believe the military assault on Gaza City will deliver a decisive blow to the group, which continues to stage ambushes and guerrilla attacks.

Israel's military says troops have "begun pushing into the heart of Gaza City," renewing its call for thousands of war-weary civilians to evacuate.

The candidate says Hamas is "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people" and it is "not up to" Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to decide.

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has denied ever being “equivocal” on Hamas, a day after saying the proscribed terrorist group was “part of the fabric” of the Palestinian people". Her comments in a BBC interview on Monday were condemned by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said Hamas cannot be part of Gaza’s future.