Israel has completely shut down the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, escalating tensions after negotiations for an extended ceasefire with Hamas collapsed. The move, which follows the expiration of the first phase of the truce, has sparked international concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
The truce, which had facilitated the release of hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, ended abruptly after Hamas refused to accept a proposed extension brokered by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that Hamas’s rejection had left Israel with no choice but to halt all aid shipments into Gaza.
“With the end of Phase 1 of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the 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,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office read.
The Israeli leader warned that unless Hamas agreed to further negotiations, there would be “serious consequences.”
Hamas swiftly denounced the move, accusing Netanyahu of using humanitarian aid as a weapon.
“Netanyahu’s decision to stop aid going into Gaza once again shows the ugly face of the Israeli occupation,” a Hamas spokesperson said. “This is cheap blackmail and a betrayal of the ceasefire agreement. The international community must intervene to stop this collective punishment.”
Hamas insists that the second phase of the truce should proceed as initially agreed, demanding the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group had refused to extend the ceasefire without guarantees from U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that these conditions would be met.
Despite the collapse of the current deal, Netanyahu’s office stated late Saturday that Israel had accepted a U.S. proposal to extend the ceasefire for six weeks, aligning with both the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover. However, Israeli officials made it clear that military operations would resume if talks failed to yield results by the end of this period.
The proposed deal reportedly includes the release of half of the remaining hostages, both living and deceased, as an initial step.
The humanitarian impact of the renewed blockade on Gaza is expected to be devastating. Already struggling with food shortages, medical supply depletion, and widespread destruction, the Palestinian enclave faces an even graver crisis with the cessation of aid.
The war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel—killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages—has since escalated into one of the deadliest conflicts in the region. Israel’s relentless military campaign has resulted in at least 48,365 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
With no clear resolution in sight, the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations raises fears of further bloodshed, deepening an already dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
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