Israel Blocks Aid To Gaza Strip, The Sustainability Of Ceasefire Is Not Clear

Humanitarian aid trucks crossed into Gaza via Zikim and Kerem SALom Crossing (Twitter/@WFP)

Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, Palestine on Sunday, as the stalemate of the ceasefire that had halted fighting over the past six weeks escalated, with Hamas asking Egyptian and Qatar mediators to intervene.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said earlier it had adopted a proposal by US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff over a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Easter periods, hours after the first phase of the agreed ceasefire ended.

If approved, the ceasefire would halt fighting until the end of Ramadan's fasting period around March 31 and Jewish Easter around April 20, quoted by Reuters March 3.

The ceasefire will condition on Hamas that frees half of the hostages who live and die on the first day, with the rest released by the end, if a deal is reached at a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas said it was committed to a previously agreed ceasefire that had been scheduled to shift to a second phase, with negotiations aimed at ending the war permanently, rejecting the idea of a temporary extension to the 42-day ceasefire.

A senior Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardi, told Al Jazeera the group would only release the remaining Israeli hostages under the provisions of a phased agreement that had been agreed upon.

Earlier, Egyptian sources said on Friday the Israeli delegation in Cairo had sought to extend the first phase for 42 days, while Hamas wanted to switch to a second phase of the ceasefire agreement. Hazem spokesman Qassem said on Saturday they rejected Israel's "formulation" to extend the first phase.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas handed over 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais who were repatriated in unscheduled release, in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and prisoners from Israeli prisons and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from several positions in Gaza.

Under the initial agreement, the second phase is meant to begin negotiations over the release of the remaining 59 hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the end of the war.

But the negotiations never started and Israel said all its hostages had to be sent home for the battle to stop.

"Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages," the prime minister's office said, announcing the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip would be halted.

"If Hamas continues to refuse, there will be additional consequences."

Hamas denounced Israel's actions as "extortion" and "open coup against the agreement".

"We ask the mediator to suppress the occupation to fulfill its obligations under the agreement, at all stages," he said, adding the only way to regain the hostages was to comply with the agreement and start negotiations for the second phase.

Commenting on the suspension of aid entry, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the decision would affect ceasefire negotiations, adding his group "does not respond to pressure."

Yesterday, Israeli officials said a delegation would arrive in Cairo in a move that appeared to discuss ways to ease tensions and ensure a ceasefire remains in effect.

Speaking at a press conference with his Croatian counterpart, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Palestinians in Gaza would not get goods for free and further negotiations should be linked to the release of the hostages.

He said the United States was "understanding" Israel's decision to stop the entry of goods into Gaza, and blamed Hamas for the current deadlock in negotiations.