The Israeli government says it blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid to Gaza because the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas has expired.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hamas has so far refused to accept a temporary cease-fire extension under a proposal from US President Donald Trump Steve Witkoff.
A spokesperson for Hamas called the “cheap blackmail” move and a “blow” on the ceasefire agreement and urged the mediators to make Israel take up the provision of aid.
The Palestinian group wants phase two of the agreement to continue as initially negotiated, with the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli Gaza forces.
Friday evening, Hamas said that it would not accept any extension of the first phase without guarantee on the part of us, Qatari and the Egyptian mediators that phase two would finally take place.
A declaration from the Netanyahu office said: “With the end of phase 1 of the agreement with the hostage, and in the light of Hamas’ refusal to accept Witkoff’s outline for continuous talks – to which Israel agreed – Prime Minister Netanyahu decided that, this morning, any entry of goods and supplies in the Gaza Strip will take place.
“Israel will not allow a cease-fire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be other consequences.”
Hamas spokesman said: “Netanyahu’s decision to stop aid to Gaza once again shows the ugly face of the Israeli occupation … The international community must put pressure on the Israeli government to stop starving our people.”
Late last night, Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had accepted an American proposal for the ceasefire to continue for about six weeks during the Muslim periods of Ramadan and Jewish Passover.
If, at the end of this period, negotiations reached an impasse, Israel would reserve the right to return to war.
The American envoy Witkoff did not make his proposal public. According to Israel, it would start with the release of half of all the remaining living and dead hostages.
Netanyahu’s office said ISRAEL immediately started negotiations if Hamas modified its position on the extension of the six-week ceasefire.
The first phase of the ceasefire which entered into force on January 19 expired on Saturday.
He stopped 15 months of fighting between Hamas and the Israeli army, allowing the liberation of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
But negotiations on phase two, including the release of all remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, barely started.
It is believed that there would be 24 living hostages, with 39 others presumed to be dead.
Hamas led an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 other hostages.
Israel responded by an air and terrestrial campaign in the Gaza Strip, during which at least 48,365 people were killed, according to the Ministry of Health managed by Hamas in the territory.
