Israel halts all aid into Gaza as it demands Hamas accepts new ceasefire plan
Israel has stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not accept a new proposal for an extension of the first phase of the fragile ceasefire.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the truce and said its decision to cut off aid is “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement”.
Both sides stopped short of saying the ceasefire had ended.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday.
The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas is expected to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that under the existing agreements, Israel can resume fighting after the first phase if it believes negotiations are ineffective.
He said the ceasefire will only continue if Hamas keeps releasing hostages, telling his Cabinet: “there will be no free lunches”.
He said Israel has fully “co-ordinated” with President Donald Trump’s US administration.
There was no immediate comment from the United States on the proposal announced by Israel or its decision to cut off aid.
Hundreds of aid trucks have entered Gaza daily since the ceasefire began on January 19, and it is unclear what the immediate impact of the aid cut-off will be.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier on Sunday that it supports what it described as a proposal from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan – the Muslim holy month of dawn-to-dusk fasting that began over the weekend – and the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on April 20.
Under that proposal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, Mr Netanyahu said.
Speaking earlier, foreign minister Gideon Saar said: “We fulfilled all our commitments (under phase one) until the very last day, which was yesterday. Our position is that during negotiations, hostages should be released.”
Hamas warned any attempt to delay or cancel the existing ceasefire agreement would have “humanitarian consequences” for the hostages and reiterated the only way to free them is through implementing the deal and negotiating the second phase.
Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining hostages all at once in phase two, but only in return for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.
An Egyptian official said Hamas and Egypt will not accept a new proposal aimed at returning the remaining hostages without ending the war. The official noted the agreement had called on the two sides to begin negotiations over phase two in early February.
The first, six-week phase of the ceasefire saw Hamas release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli forces pulled back from most of Gaza and Israel allowed a surge of humanitarian aid to enter.
But the first phase was marred by repeated disputes, with each side accusing the other of violations. Israeli strikes killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had approached its forces or entered certain areas in violation of the truce.
Hamas paraded the captives – some of whom were emaciated – before crowds in public spectacles that Israel and the United Nations said were cruel and degrading.
Hamas said Israel’s aid suspension is another violation, saying deliveries are supposed to continue as the sides negotiate over the second phase of the deal.
In Gaza on Sunday, Israel carried out an air strike on Palestinians who it said were planting an explosive device near the northern border. Gaza’s Health Ministry said two men were killed in the strike and Israeli fire killed two other people elsewhere.
By Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press