Israel announces it has halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza
Tel Aviv: After phase one of the ceasefire agreement expired on Saturday, Israel said on Sunday (local time) that it has halted the entrance of all humanitarian supplies into Gaza unless Hamas consents to a US-backed extension of the agreement, according to Al Jazeera.
The US request to temporarily prolong the truce throughout the Jewish holiday of Passover and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan was endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to his office. Half of the hostages detained in Gaza are to be released once the agreement is finalized, according to the plan.
According to Al Jazeera, Hamas, which is calling for Israel to leave Gaza, swiftly rejected the plan, accusing Netanyahu and his administration of committing “a blatant coup against the ceasefire deal” that had already been reached.
After Hamas rejected the truce that had put an end to months of bloodshed in Gaza, the situation rapidly worsened.
Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday that “in light of Hamas’ refusal to accept the (US envoy Steve) Witkoff framework for continuing the talks, which Israel had agreed to, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will be stopped.”
The PMO, the Israeli prime minister’s office, threatened “additional consequences” if Hamas rejected the plan any further. The message further said that Israel would not permit a ceasefire until the other prisoners were freed.
Israel’s decision to stop providing humanitarian supplies to Gaza has been denounced by Hamas as “cheap blackmail” and a “war crime,” according to Al Jazeera. Mediators were urged by the organization to put pressure on Israel to stop what they called “punitive and immoral measures.”
Witkoff and the Trump Administration have not responded to the updated proposal or acknowledged Israel’s assertion that the assistance halt was reached with Washington.
Israel’s actions were also denounced by Egypt, one of the mediators in the current ceasefire agreement over the hostages. It “unequivocally rejects the politicization of humanitarian aid and its use as a tool of blackmail,” according to the Egyptian administration.
On Saturday, the ceasefire’s first phase came to an end, after the release of hundreds of Palestinian captives and dozens of Israeli hostages.
In exchange for the ongoing release of Palestinian inmates and detainees and the increased flow of supplies into Gaza, the Israelis want phase one to continue: the exchange of hostages, both living and dead. Twenty-four Israeli captives are believed to be still alive in Gaza.
As part of the second stage of the truce, Hamas is negotiating a ceasefire that is mutthbhedddh, ek bdmaash ke pair meN lgii golii, any Saathii girphtaar hridvaaranent, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The group accuses Israel of “ongoing manipulation” by proposing to extend phase one of the truce.
While stating that there was “no automatic transition between phases” under the original agreement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Israel was willing to continue discussions “including for the second phase” in return for the release of captives.
Since the framework’s first phase is over, we have stopped vehicles from entering Gaza. At a press conference on Sunday, Saar said, “We wouldn’t do it for free.”
