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Israel Halts Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Amid Ceasefire Dispute
Israel has suspended all humanitarian aid to Gaza after Hamas rejected a revised proposal to extend the ceasefire, which expired early Sunday. The militant group dismissed the latest plan as "manipulative," escalating tensions in the region.
The conflict in Gaza had been on pause for 42 days following an initial ceasefire brokered in January through mediation by Egypt and Qatar. However, in recent days, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the agreement, stalling efforts to progress into the second phase of the ceasefire, which aims to end the war and secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel had agreed to a proposal allegedly crafted by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The plan proposed extending the ceasefire for an additional six weeks, covering the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish festival of Passover. The agreement would require Hamas to release half of its remaining hostages—about 30 individuals—on the first day, followed by a commitment to release all remaining hostages by the end of the process, according to Netanyahu’s office.
While it remains unclear whether the Witkoff proposal was officially endorsed by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, analysts suggest that Israel’s announcement and its restrictions on Gaza were likely coordinated with Washington.
Hamas spokesman Mahmoud Mardawi swiftly rejected the proposal, accusing Israel of reneging on past agreements and failing to fulfill its obligations. Mardawi reiterated Hamas’s stance that the second phase of the ceasefire—including a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a permanent end to the war, and the reconstruction of the devastated territory—must be finalized before any further hostages are released.
"Incessant manipulation will not bring the hostages back to their families. Instead, it will prolong their suffering and endanger their lives," Mardawi added.
In response, Netanyahu declared that Israel would halt all incoming goods and supplies to Gaza. "Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues to reject, there will be consequences," he stated.
Hamas condemned the decision as "cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant breach of the agreement," urging international mediators to pressure Israel to reverse the move.
During the initial six-day ceasefire, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, including eight who were no longer alive, along with five Thai foreign workers. In exchange, Israel released over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners and permitted 4,200 aid trucks to enter Gaza weekly. The launch of the second phase of the ceasefire, originally scheduled four weeks earlier under the January agreement, was delayed due to ongoing disputes.
Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel would resume hostilities if negotiations proved ineffective, assuring the U.S. administration of such a step. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the accelerated delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel, while criticizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Reporting by Heba Saleh in Cairo and Steff Chavez in Washington.
