Israel has stopped the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in an effort to push Hamas into accepting amendments to the current ceasefire agreement, allowing for the release of hostages without a withdrawal of Israeli troops. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office revealed on Sunday that they were blocking the entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, as Hamas has refused to accept a plan proposed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff to extend phase one of the ceasefire and delay phase two, which entails an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The specifics of the Witkoff plan had not been confirmed by Washington as of Sunday morning.
Hamas has denounced the suspension of aid as a “war crime” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement, calling the decision to halt humanitarian assistance “cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant coup against the [ceasefire] agreement.” The CEASEFIRE talks in Cairo ended in deadlock over the transition to the second phase.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said that the decision to suspend aid was made in coordination with the Trump administration. Israel had previously supported a proposal to extend phase one through Ramadan and Passover, with a potential agreement on a permanent ceasefire to see the complete release of hostages.
Hamas has been communicating with Qatari and Egyptian officials who are negotiating with both US and Israeli representatives, but the negotiators left Cairo without any new discussions by late Saturday. Considerations of Israeli troops pulling out of the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt could destabilize Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, possibly leading to new elections.
Are Israeli political analysts believe that Netanyahu might have entered into the ceasefire under pressure from Trump, with the expectation that the latest aim never materializes. The Israeli far-right opposes the focus on freeing hostages, instead advocating for Hamas’s destruction.
The potential long-term administration of Gaza remains unresolved, with Trump’s suggestion that the US should take control of the Gaza Strip, relocating its 2 million Palestinian residents, causing confusion and opposition.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/02/israel-cuts-off-humanitarian-supplies-to-gaza-as-it-seeks-to-change-ceasefire-deal
