Photo: Depositphotos
According to the press service of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a complete cessation of imports and supplies to the Gaza Strip due to Hamas’ refusal to implement the plan of US mediator Steve Whitkoff.
During the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that Israel had accepted a temporary ceasefire plan for Ramadan and Passover, agreed with US President Donald Trump and his administration. However, he said Hamas refused to support it and refused to release Israeli hostages.
“If Hamas continues to stand its ground and does not release our hostages, there will be further consequences,” Netanyahu said.
According to the Israeli prime minister, according to Whitkoff’s plan, Hamas was supposed to release half of the hostages on the first day of its implementation, and the rest at the end of the negotiations. However, the militants continue to block these agreements.
Netanyahu also reminded that, according to previous agreements, Israel has the right to resume hostilities after 42 days of a ceasefire if the talks fail. This point was confirmed by the previous US administration and supported by the current team of Donald Trump.
“We are not violating any agreements. It was Hamas that constantly violated the agreements of the first stage. If they think that they can enjoy the terms of the truce without releasing hostages, they are deeply mistaken,” Netanyahu said.
He also said that Hamas was misappropriating humanitarian aid, opening fire on civilians in Gaza and turning international supplies into a source of funding for terrorist attacks.
“We have completed the first stage with great success, returning 30 live hostages and the bodies of eight dead. Today we have returned 196 hostages. But our goal remains unchanged – to return all of them, both alive and dead. And we will not stop until we achieve this,” the Israeli Prime Minister concluded.
