Israel To Cease Entry Of All Goods & Supplies Into Gaza Starting Today As 1st Phase Of Ceasefire Ends

The prime minister's office did not elaborate on the decision but warned of “further consequences” if Hamas doesn't accept the proposal.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 02 Mar 2025 01:34 PM (IST)

Israel has reportedly agreed to the proposal for the second phase of the ceasefire.
Source : PTI

Israel has decided to cease entry of all goods and supplies in the Gaza Strip starting Sunday morning, a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.

According to Al Jazeera, he is taking the drastic step after phase one of the ceasefire ended, because “Hamas has refused to accept [US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve] Witkoff’s outline to continue the talks”. Israel has reportedly agreed to the proposal for the second phase of the ceasefire.

The prime minister's office did not elaborate on the decision but warned of “further consequences” if Hamas doesn't accept the proposal, AP reported. “Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences,” the statement from Netanyahu's office read.

According to a report by AP, the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included a surge of humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday. The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas was expected to release the remaining hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire.

Hamas, the AP report said, has "accused Israel of trying to derail the fragile truce and said its decision to cut off aid was 'cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement'.

ALSO READ: Israel Approves Ceasefire Extension In Gaza During Ramzan

Ramzan Ceasefire Extension

This news came after Israel announced on Sunday that it had approved the US proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza temporarily, a bridging measure following the conclusion of the first phase of its ceasefire with Hamas.

According to AFP, a statement from the Israel Prime Minister’s office said this proposal was put forth by US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and it covered Ramzan and Passover, lasting through mid-April.

The temporary truce aims to ease tensions during the religious holidays, but details on its implementation are yet to be disclosed. Negotiations have remained inconclusive, leaving the fate of hostages still held in Gaza and the lives of more than two million Palestinians hanging in the balance, as per AFP.

Under the six-week ceasefire that took effect on January 19, Gaza militants freed 25 living hostages and returned the bodies of eight others to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The deal, reached following months of gruelling negotiations, largely halted the war that erupted with Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Published at : 02 Mar 2025 01:33 PM (IST)
Tags :
Israel Benjamin Netanyahu GaZa Hamas

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