Israel said Sunday it has stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza following the expiry of phase one of the ceasefire deal and Hamas\u2019 refusal of a US-backed extension. <\/p>\n
The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, under which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed since mid-January, reached its expiration date on Saturday. <\/p>\n
Hamas has insisted on advancing to the second stage, accusing Israel of \u201congoing manipulation\u201d with its proposed extension to cover the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover. That extension had been proposed by US President Donald Trump\u2019s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. <\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s Prime Minister\u2019s Office said Sunday: \u201cWith the completion of Phase A of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas\u2019 refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for continuing the talks \u2014 which Israel had agreed to \u2014 Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu has decided that as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will be stopped. <\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be additional consequences.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi said in a statement Sunday that \u201cthe only path to regional stability and the return of the prisoners is the full implementation of the agreement, starting with the second phase.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hamas wants the second phase to include negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the enclave\u2019s reconstruction, \u201cand then the release of prisoners as part of an agreed-upon deal,\u201d Mardawi said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we insist on, and we will not back down from it,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
The Israelis want phase one to continue \u2013 the exchange of hostages, alive and deceased, in return for the continued release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the flow of higher volumes of aid into Gaza. There are thought to be 24 Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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