Israel Halts Gaza Aid

Israel today said it has stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas agrees to a US-backed extension of the ceasefire deal, after phase one of the deal expired yesterday. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he backed a US proposal to temporarily extend the current ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday Passover. The proposal envisions half the hostages held in Gaza being released on the day the deal begins. Netanyahu’s office warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas rejects the US proposal.

On the other hand, Hamas accused Israel of trying



to derail the existing ceasefire agreement. Hamas alleged that Israel’s decision to cut off aid is “cheap extortion, a war crime, and a blatant attack” on the truce that took hold in January after more than a year of negotiations. Both sides stopped short of saying the ceasefire had ended.

Meanwhile, Egypt, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, condemned the closure and accused Israel of using “starvation as a weapon.” Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for the immediate implementation of Phase 2 of the existing ceasefire agreement.