The Israeli government halted the entry of humanitarian aid into the war-torn Gaza Strip on Sunday, just hours after the expiry of the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office claimed that the aid was stopped over Palestinian group Hamas’ refusal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
“As of this morning, entry of all goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted,” the office said in a statement.
“If Hamas persists in its refusal, there will be additional consequences,” it added without providing any further details.
Israeli Channel 14 said the decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza was coordinated with the US.
The decision to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza was hailed by far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir, a former national security minister.
"This policy should remain in place until the last hostage returns. Now is the time to open the gates of hell, cut electricity and water, and resume the war,” he said in a statement.
The first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on Jan. 19, officially ended at midnight on Saturday. However, Israel has not agreed to move forward to the second phase of the deal to bring an end to the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu had sought to extend the initial exchange phase to secure the release of as many Israeli captives as possible without offering anything in return or fulfilling the military and humanitarian obligations of the agreement.
Hamas has refused to proceed under these conditions, insisting that Israel abide by the terms of the ceasefire and immediately start negotiations for the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete halt to the war.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel said it agreed to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover, following a proposal from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after the expiry of the first phase of the ceasefire.
The agreement has halted Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed more than 48,380 victims, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.