Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, has refused to accept an Israeli proposal to extend the initial stage of the Gaza ceasefire, as informed by a senior official.
The group insists that the remaining Israeli hostages will only be released as per the agreement made in the existing phased deal, Mahmoud Mardawi remarked to Al Jazeera on Sunday.
According to a plan proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and endorsed by Israel, the first phase of the ceasefire was meant to persist through Ramadan and Passover, until April 20.
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had stated that Israel would halt all goods and supplies into Gaza since Hamas was supposedly refusing to accept the Witkoff plan for continuing the discussions, which Israel agreed to.
Hamas labeled Israel’s stance as “a war crime and a blatant attack” on a truce agreement that required a year of negotiations to materialize in January.
The Egyptian foreign minister, playing a critical mediator role in the conflict, dubbed the plan as an attempt to use “starvation as a weapon” and as a “flagrant and clear violation of humanitarian law”.
Saudi Arabia also criticized Israel’s decision, calling it “a tool of extortion”.
The group insists that the remaining Israeli hostages will only be released as per the agreement made in the existing phased deal, Mahmoud Mardawi remarked to Al Jazeera on Sunday.
According to a plan proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and endorsed by Israel, the first phase of the ceasefire was meant to persist through Ramadan and Passover, until April 20.
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had stated that Israel would halt all goods and supplies into Gaza since Hamas was supposedly refusing to accept the Witkoff plan for continuing the discussions, which Israel agreed to.
Hamas labeled Israel’s stance as “a war crime and a blatant attack” on a truce agreement that required a year of negotiations to materialize in January.
The Egyptian foreign minister, playing a critical mediator role in the conflict, dubbed the plan as an attempt to use “starvation as a weapon” and as a “flagrant and clear violation of humanitarian law”.
Saudi Arabia also criticized Israel’s decision, calling it “a tool of extortion”.
The initial phase of the ceasefire, which ended on Saturday, showed an increase in humanitarian support following months of escalating hunger in Gaza.
Negotiations regarding the second phase, which were due to begin a month earlier, have yet to start.
Israel has warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not agree to its proposal.
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