Israel has announced the suspension of all aid entering Gaza as the first phase of a fragile ceasefire with Hamas comes to an end. The move follows escalating violence in the region, including deadly attacks on Gaza after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on how to proceed with the ceasefire.
The ceasefire’s initial 42-day period officially concluded, and Israel supported an extension proposed by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. This extension would cover the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover. However, Hamas has rejected the extension, opting instead for a transition to the second phase of the truce, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and a more permanent cessation of hostilities.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that, starting Sunday, all goods and supplies would be suspended from entering Gaza. “If Hamas continues its refusal, further consequences will follow,” Netanyahu’s office warned. In response, Hamas condemned the suspension, labeling it “cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
While Israel denied reports of artillery shelling in the area, Gaza’s civil defense reported exchanges of fire, including Israeli drone strikes that killed two individuals. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed the casualties, adding that Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza had resulted in additional fatalities.
Israel’s government and hardline figures, such as far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, supported the aid suspension, calling it a crucial step towards a “total victory” over Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of committing “punitive, immoral actions” and urged international pressure to stop the suspension of aid to Gaza’s over two million residents.
This escalation comes at a time when Gaza is in the midst of its second Ramadan under the shadow of war, with residents still facing widespread destruction and deprivation due to the ongoing conflict.
The war, which began following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has left Gaza in ruins and has claimed the lives of more than 48,000 people, mostly civilians. Israel continues to receive military support from the U.S., which has expedited the delivery of $4 billion in emergency military aid.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, as the suspension of aid exacerbates an already catastrophic situation for its residents, with widespread hunger and suffering.
