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Israel on March 2 halted the entrance of all aid to the Gaza Strip and threatened “additional consequences” and a return to war if the Hamas Movement continue to refuse a proposal to extend the expiring initial stage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that the move was backed by the United States who brokered the original deal.
“With the end of phase one of the hostage deal and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the [US special envoy Steve] Witkoff outline for continuing talks – to which Israel agreed – Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that, as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease,” the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” the office added, threatening “further consequences” if Hamas continues to say no to the proposal.
From his side, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that Israel was prepared to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire but was insisting on more hostages being freed during the talks.
“We fulfilled all our commitments [under Phase 1] until the very last day, which was yesterday,” he told a press conference. “Our position is that during negotiations, hostages should be released.”
During the first phase of the deal, 33 Israeli hostages were released, eight of them dead, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving hefty jail sentences. Five Thai nationals were also freed from Gaza during the same period under a separate arrangement.
Netanyahu’s office declared after the end of the phase that it was endorsing a U.S. proposal, which would see the ceasefire with Hamas extended through Ramadan and Passover, during which all hostages could potentially be released.
Hamas has so far rejected the U.S. proposal, according to the Israeli government which warned that if this stance isn’t changed, the Israeli military could resume the war on Gaza.
It’s worth noting that Israel is yet to engage in talks on the second phase of the deal and has not yet pulled its troops out from the Philadelphiа Corridor which controls Gaza’s border with Egypt.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said recently that the military was preparing for the option of resuming the war on Gaza.
The recent moves by Israel are clearly meant to corner Hamas. Either the group releases more hostages for very little, or Israel could move back into Gaza and occupy vast parts of the Strip.
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satanyaho is scared. things aren’t going his way. this is with purpose because of ramadan.
no as usual you probably just went straight to making your comment and didn’t even read the article at all .
jews = nazis.
you’re a typical type who doesn’t know anything. imo
returning starved beaten or murdered people isn’t returning hostages it’s war crimes and the msm globally who belittle it are accessories imo and culpable too
as is hate speech .and its enablers .
i seem to recall nato launching an unprovoked war of aggression against yugoslavia for the same reasons.
who did not expect this ? so goes the red sea to yemen , iran can ready itself for ww-3 , the indoctrinated zio deal breakers dance in joy as any and every route to peace is destroyed . genocide is thier mission .