Trucks carrying aid line up near the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, February 18, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Israel stops entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza as ceasefire expires, Ramadan begins

Israel on Sunday stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip. The office of Israel Prime Minister did not give any detail 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.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Israel halts all goods and supplies entry to Gaza
  • Ceasefire phase one expired without renewal
  • Israel backs ceasefire extension proposal

Israel on Sunday stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip. However, it was not confirmed if the supply of aid had been completely halted. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister did not give any details 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.

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday. The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas was to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire.

Earlier, Israel said that it supports a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. It said the proposal came from the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Under that proposal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

In response to Netanyahu's office statement, Hamas senior official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said it is a clear affirmation that Israel was disavowing the deals it previously signed.

"This continued manipulation will not return the hostages to their families.. But on the contrary... it will lead to their continued suffering and endangering their lives," Mardawi was quoted as saying in Palestinian media including by the Hamas-affiliated Shehab news agency.

The ceasefire agreement halted 15 months of fighting beginning on January 19, allowing the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais captured on Hamas' October 7 attack for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel. It was meant to lead to subsequent talks to build on the ceasefire deal.

With ipouts from AP and Reuters