Israel blocks entry of all goods, supplies into Gaza
Netanyahu’s office has just issued a statement on the move, according to Ynet News.
The statement says: “With the end of phase one of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff outline for continuing the talks – to which Israel agreed, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that starting this morning all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease.
“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences.”
The announcement came hours after the declaration by the Israeli PM’s office that there’s a new offer on the table – that the timeline and the phases of the ceasefire agreed on initially in January are no longer applicable, and instead, they want a deal that would cover the holy month of Ramadan, during which Hamas must release half of the living and dead Israeli captives.
This announcement caters to calls within the government that Israel must apply pressure on Hamas. It must weaponise the entry of humanitarian assistance.
This means closing all access points to the Gaza Strip and not allowing humanitarian aid because Israel says Hamas is not engaging with Steve Witkoff’s proposal. We have not heard from Hamas specifically about the proposal, but that is the Israeli line.
A convoy of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid for Gaza waits in Egypt
Hamas calls Israel’s Gaza aid block ‘cheap blackmail’
Hamas says Netanyahu’s decision to halt humanitarian aid into Gaza is “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire deal.
In a statement, it described the Israeli move as “a war crime and a blatant attack on the agreement”, and urged the mediators to compel Israel to end punitive measures against Gaza.
Israel said on Sunday it’s stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip. The PM’s office didn’t elaborate on the decision but warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not accept what Israel says is a US proposal for an extension of the ceasefire.
Israel’s Ben-Gvir celebrates Gaza aid blockade
“Better late than never,” says far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has repeatedly called for Israel to stop all aid into Gaza and a return to war.
“This should be the policy until the last hostage is returned,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Now is the time to open the gates of hell, cut off the electricity and water, return to war and most importantly – not settle for just half of the hostages, but to return to President Trump’s ultimatum – all hostages immediately or hell will be unleashed on Gaza.”
Hamas says it ‘doesn’t respond to pressure’ after Gaza aid blocked
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri says Israel’s decision to suspend aid shipments into Gaza “complicates matters and affects the negotiation process”.
He added the Palestinian group “doesn’t respond to pressure”.
Israel stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip today and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not accept a new proposal for an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire.
It’s a war crime what they’re doing now’
Sami al-Arian from Istanbul Zaim University says Hamas’s options are limited after Israel said it will now prevent all humanitarian assistance from entering the war-battered Gaza Strip.
“It’s a war crime what they’re doing now. Denying a population of over two million people – about 70 percent of whom are women, children and the elderly. Israel has lost legitimacy for over 15 months. Their leader is a war criminal, wanted by the International Criminal Court. That’s what we’re dealing with here,” al-Arian told Al Jazeera.
“Hamas doesn’t have many options. They’ve fulfilled their part of the agreement. They turned over the captives they were supposed to. It has been Israel, backed by the United States, that has refused to negotiate.
