Israel on Sunday blocked the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned of “further consequences” if Hamas did not accept a new proposal to extend the first phase of a fragile ceasefire.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to break the ceasefire, calling its decision to withhold aid “cheap coercion, a war crime and a clear attack on the (ceasefire) agreement.” Neither side has said the ceasefire has ended.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which included increased humanitarian aid, ended on Saturday. The two sides have yet to hold a second phase of talks, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal and a long-term ceasefire.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, said the decision to suspend aid was made in coordination with the Trump administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it supported a proposal described as coming from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, which ends on April 20.
According to Netanyahu’s office, under the proposal, Hamas would release half of the hostages on the first day and the rest after an agreement on a permanent ceasefire is reached. There was no immediate comment from the United States, Egypt or Qatar, which have been mediating between Israel and Hamas for more than a year.
Under the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians held by Israel. Israeli forces withdrew from most of Gaza and Israel allowed increased humanitarian aid to enter.
But the first phase was marred by repeated disputes, with each side accusing the other of violations. Israeli attacks have killed dozens of Palestinians. It has said the army violated the ceasefire by attacking its own troops or entering certain areas. Hamas said Israel’s suspension of aid was another violation and said the distributions should continue while the parties negotiate a second phase of the agreement.
Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza in the early days of the war, only easing it under U.S. pressure. UN agencies and aid groups have accused Israel of not providing enough aid during the 15-month war, and the Biden administration has repeatedly pressed it to do more. Israel blamed the shortage on the failure of the United Nations to allow sufficient aid to enter, and also accused Hamas of siphoning off aid.
