Israel cuts off aid to Gaza in attempt to pressure Hamas to accept new ceasefire proposal

Israel stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip yesterday and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas doesn’t accept a new proposal to extend the first phase of a fragile ceasefire.

Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the truce and said its decision to cut off aid was “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack” on he truce deal. Both sides stopped short of saying the ceasefire had ended.

The first phase of the 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.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said the decision to suspend aid was made in coordination with the Trump administration.

Israel says the new proposal is backed by the US

Israel said yesterday that it supports what it described as a proposal from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan — the Muslim holy month of dawn-to-dusk fasting that began over the weekend — and the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on April 20.

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.

Hamas warned that any attempt to delay or cancel the existing ceasefire agreement would have “humanitarian consequences” for the hostages and reiterated that the only way to free them was through implementing the deal and negotiating the second phase.

Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining hostages all at once in Phase 2, but only in return for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

An Egyptian official said Hamas and Egypt would not accept a new proposal aimed at returning the remaining hostages without ending the war. The official noted that the agreement had called on the two sides to begin negotiations over Phase 2 in early February.

The official, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said mediators were trying to resolve the dispute. There was no immediate comment from the United States or Qatar, which along with Egypt has served as a key mediator with Hamas. TIA GOLDENBERG & SAMY MAGDY, TEL AVIV, MDT/AP