- Israel halts all humanitarian aid to Gaza, demanding Hamas accept a US-backed ceasefire extension.
- Hamas condemns the aid blockade as “blackmail” and urges mediators to intervene.
- Ceasefire negotiations stall as Israel warns of further military action if talks fail.
Israel has halted all humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza, demanding that Hamas accept a U.S.-backed ceasefire extension proposal.
The initial phase of a truce agreement—mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S.—expired on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Hamas had rejected a temporary extension proposed by Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff.
A Hamas spokesman condemned Israel’s move as “cheap blackmail” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement, urging mediators to intervene. The ceasefire, which had paused 15 months of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, led to the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
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The truce framework, originally proposed by Joe Biden, was structured in three phases:
- Phase One: Implemented on January 19 and expired on Saturday.
- Phase Two: Intended to establish a permanent ceasefire, secure the release of all remaining living hostages, and facilitate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, negotiations for this phase have barely progressed.
- Phase Three: Focused on retrieving the bodies of deceased hostages and initiating Gaza’s reconstruction, which is expected to take years.
Hamas has refused to extend Phase One without guarantees that Phase Two will proceed. As the truce expired, Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel had agreed to Witkoff’s proposal for a six-week extension covering Ramadan and Passover. If negotiations fail by the end of this period, Israel reserves the right to resume military operations.
In response to Hamas’s rejection, Netanyahu ordered the immediate suspension of all aid shipments into Gaza. A statement from his office declared:
“With the end of Phase 1 of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff outline for continuing talks—to which Israel agreed—Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that, as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease.”
Israel insists that no ceasefire will continue without the release of hostages. Hamas, in turn, urged the international community to pressure Israel into reversing its blockade, calling it an act of collective punishment.
Aid organizations confirmed that no supply trucks entered Gaza on Sunday morning. Antoine Renard of the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasised the urgency, stating: “Humanitarian assistance must continue to flow into Gaza. It’s essential.”
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Despite Israel’s blockade, aid agencies have stockpiled supplies, reducing the immediate threat of shortages. However, Egypt has called for the full implementation of the ceasefire deal and will present a Gaza reconstruction plan at an emergency Arab summit on Tuesday.
As tensions rise, medics reported four fatalities from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday. The Israeli military stated it had targeted individuals planting an explosive device in northern Gaza.
There are currently 24 hostages believed to be alive, while 39 are presumed dead. Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, where at least 48,365 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
