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Israel has announced a complete cessation of humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip after the first phase of the ceasefire with the Hamas group. According to the BBC, this decision was made against the backdrop of Hamas’s refusal to agree to a temporary extension of the ceasefire as planned by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.
In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:
“With the completion of the first phase of the hostage deal and Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff plan, the prime minister has decided to completely cut off the supply of goods and aid to Gaza as of this morning.”
The Israeli side warned that no truce would be extended without progress in the negotiations and the release of hostages:
“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues to refuse, there will be consequences.”
For its part, a Hamas representative called the blockade of humanitarian aid “cheap blackmail” and a “coup d’etat” and called on international mediators to force Israel to resume supplies.
“Netanyahu’s decision to cut off aid to Gaza once again shows the ugly face of the Israeli occupation. The international community must put pressure on Israel to stop starving our people,” Hamas said.
Earlier, Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s agreement to extend the truce for another six weeks to give the parties time to resolve disputes during the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover. However, Hamas refused to extend the truce without guarantees of the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, which provides for a full exchange of hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The first phase of the ceasefire was in effect since 19 January and allowed the release of 33 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages in exchange for more than 1 ,900 Palestinian prisoners.
It is estimated that 24 hostages are still alive in Gaza, and 39 others have been killed.
As a reminder, the conflict escalated after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1 ,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.
