Tensions between Israel and Hamas have escalated once again as the Israeli government announced a complete halt to the entry of aid and supplies into Gaza.
The move has been met with strong condemnation from Hamas, which has accused Israel of “blackmail” and called on mediators from Egypt and Qatar to intervene. The dispute centers on the stalled negotiations regarding the fragile ceasefire that has been in place for the past six weeks.
Hamas labeled Israel’s decision as “cheap extortion, a war crime, and a blatant coup” against the ceasefire agreement. The Palestinian group urged mediators to exert pressure on Israel to honor its commitments and move forward with the agreed-upon phases of the truce.
According to Hamas, the only way to secure the release of Israeli hostages is through adherence to the original agreement and discussions on the second phase of the ceasefire.
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Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, speaking to Reuters, warned that the Israeli government’s decision to block aid would have serious repercussions on the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. He further asserted that Hamas “does not respond to pressures.”
The Israeli government, on the other hand, maintains that the suspension of aid is a necessary measure to push Hamas into accepting new terms for extending the ceasefire.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that Palestinians in Gaza “will not get goods for free” and insisted that any further negotiations must be directly tied to the release of the hostages.
Israeli authorities also claim that their decision has received tacit understanding from the United States, placing the blame for the breakdown in talks squarely on Hamas.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the adoption of a ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Under this plan, the truce would be extended through the Ramadan fasting period (ending March 31) and the Jewish Passover holiday (April 20), contingent on Hamas releasing half of the remaining hostages on the first day of the agreement.
The remaining captives would be freed at the conclusion of the ceasefire, provided a deal for a permanent truce is reached. Despite Israeli proposals, Hamas has reiterated its commitment to the initially agreed-upon truce, which was meant to progress into a second phase of negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.
The Palestinian group has rejected Israel’s terms for a temporary extension, emphasizing that the next phase of talks should focus on ending the conflict altogether.
According to Egyptian sources speaking to Reuters, Israel’s delegation in Cairo sought to prolong the first phase of the truce by 42 days, while Hamas pushed for a transition to the next stage of the agreement. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem confirmed the group’s opposition to what it described as Israel’s rewording of the ceasefire terms.
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