Israel stops allowing aid into Gaza
Hamas has turned down a proposal for extending the ceasefire, according to claims from West Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the militant organization is seeking to advance to the second phase of the truce agreement. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
West Jerusalem has accused Hamas of rejecting a ceasefire extension.
Israel has ceased all humanitarian aid to Gaza, attributing the decision to Hamas's refusal to prolong phase one of an internationally brokered ceasefire agreement that lapsed on Saturday.
The Israeli prime minister’s office announced this action in a post on X on Sunday.
“With the conclusion of the 1st stage of the hostages deal and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks, to which Israel agreed, PM Netanyahu decided: as of this morning, entry of all goods & supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted,” the statement read.
According to the public broadcaster Kan, Israel believes that sufficient aid has reached the enclave in recent weeks to sustain Hamas for months. The Witkoff framework, a proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests that the truce be extended during the Ramadan and Passover holiday period through April.
Hamas rejected the proposal on Saturday, urging Israel to move ahead with the second phase instead. The ceasefire deal, facilitated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, is designed to include three phases, each lasting 42 days.
The initial phase involved a truce and a prisoner exchange. The second phase aims to establish a long-term cessation of hostilities, the release of remaining captives, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase will focus on Gaza’s reconstruction under the oversight of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated on Qatar-based Al Araby TV on Saturday that no discussions were taking place regarding the second phase of the agreement. He claimed that Israel is hesitant to move to the next stage because it wants to ensure the return of remaining hostages while keeping the option of resuming hostilities.
On Sunday, Hamas denounced Netanyahu’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire deal. The militant group had also previously accused Israel of violating the truce.
In the first phase of the agreement, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, including the bodies of the deceased, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Currently, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli assessments suggesting that at least 35 of them are deceased.
“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu’s office stated on Sunday, warning of “further consequences” if Hamas continues to reject the proposal.
The hostages were taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Over the past 16 months, Gaza’s health authorities report that nearly 47,000 people in the enclave have been killed.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
Israel has ceased all humanitarian aid to Gaza, attributing the decision to Hamas's refusal to prolong phase one of an internationally brokered ceasefire agreement that lapsed on Saturday.
The Israeli prime minister’s office announced this action in a post on X on Sunday.
“With the conclusion of the 1st stage of the hostages deal and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks, to which Israel agreed, PM Netanyahu decided: as of this morning, entry of all goods & supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted,” the statement read.
According to the public broadcaster Kan, Israel believes that sufficient aid has reached the enclave in recent weeks to sustain Hamas for months. The Witkoff framework, a proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests that the truce be extended during the Ramadan and Passover holiday period through April.
Hamas rejected the proposal on Saturday, urging Israel to move ahead with the second phase instead. The ceasefire deal, facilitated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, is designed to include three phases, each lasting 42 days.
The initial phase involved a truce and a prisoner exchange. The second phase aims to establish a long-term cessation of hostilities, the release of remaining captives, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase will focus on Gaza’s reconstruction under the oversight of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated on Qatar-based Al Araby TV on Saturday that no discussions were taking place regarding the second phase of the agreement. He claimed that Israel is hesitant to move to the next stage because it wants to ensure the return of remaining hostages while keeping the option of resuming hostilities.
On Sunday, Hamas denounced Netanyahu’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire deal. The militant group had also previously accused Israel of violating the truce.
In the first phase of the agreement, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, including the bodies of the deceased, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Currently, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli assessments suggesting that at least 35 of them are deceased.
“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu’s office stated on Sunday, warning of “further consequences” if Hamas continues to reject the proposal.
The hostages were taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities. Over the past 16 months, Gaza’s health authorities report that nearly 47,000 people in the enclave have been killed.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
