GAZA CITY – The Israeli government decided to suspend the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and close the crossings with the region until further notice, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The decision was taken during an Israeli Cabinet meeting held on Saturday evening, led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
This move comes in the wake of Israel’s refusal to adhere to the terms of a ceasefire agreement, coinciding with the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire, which ended last night.
Earlier in the day, Israel said it agreed to a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods, the prime minister’s office said early on Sunday, hours after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire expired.
On the first day of Witkoff’s proposal, half of the hostages held in Gaza, both alive and dead, will be released, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, adding the remaining hostages will also be released after a permanent ceasefire was agreed, according to The Jerusalem Post newspaper.
Hamas, however, rejected an extension and insisted on adhering to the agreement, entering the second phase, and obliging Israel to what was agreed upon.
It accused Israel of disavowing the deals it previously signed.
The ceasefire agreement halted 15 months of fighting beginning on January 19, allowing the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais captured on Hamas’ October 7 attack for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel. It was meant to lead to subsequent talks to build on the ceasefire deal.
Talks on the second phase of the ceasefire have been ongoing, most recently in Cairo, but have not led to an agreement.
Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday Israel would immediately conduct negotiations on Witkoff’s plan if Hamas agreed to it. Witkoff’s proposed ceasefire would extend over the Islamic Ramadan fasting period that ends around March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday that ends around April 20.
