Israel halts aid to Gaza after ceasefire expires
Israel suspended the entry of aid into Gaza following the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Islamist group of rejecting a proposal to extend the ceasefire and warned of further consequences if the disagreement continued.
According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, the war could resume at any time. Hamas called Netanyahu’s decision cheap blackmail and a blow to the ceasefire, Reuters reported.
Netanyahu announced that Israel would not allow a ceasefire without the release of hostages, and all entry of goods and supplies into the enclave has been halted.
Hamas urged the ceasefire mediators to compel Israel to end its punitive measures against the Gaza Strip.
The Islamist group is accused by Israel of rejecting a proposal from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the first phase until the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, in exchange for the release of half of the hostages, both dead and alive, held in Gaza.
Under the agreement signed in January, as long as negotiations for the second phase are ongoing, the ceasefire must be upheld. This situation has raised fears among the relatives of the 59 hostages held in Gaza, who fear that Israeli forces will resume bombings.
"Now that we are so close to a ceasefire, I would like to say, to peace, things are still chaotic. We were so close, and now we’re back at an impasse. It’s chaos when you can’t know what will happen tomorrow, next week, or next month."
"There is no other option but to agree to the second stage as set out. That means an extended ceasefire or even ending the war and returning all hostages."
The concern is also shared by the population of Gaza, who have started to rebuild their lives after the first 42 days of the ceasefire. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar have requested a few days to resolve the deadlock over the ceasefire. The agreement reached last month ended 15 months of fighting and allowed for the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals for nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
