Israel stops the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and reneges on the truce after the first phase of the ceasefire deal ended without agreement on continuing into a second phase.
Earlier, Israel announced it would adopt a US-backed proposal for the extension of the ceasefire in Gaza throughout Ramadan and Passover, in exchange for the release of half of the remaining captives in the enclave.
Hamas said Israel’s decision on Sunday to suspend goods shipments into Gaza affects the ceasefire negotiation track, adding that the Palestinian Islamist group does not respond to pressure.
“This decision complicates matters and affects the negotiation process, and Hamas doesn’t respond to pressures,” senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
Hamas on Sunday slammed Israel’s suspension of supplies and aid entering Gaza, describing it as a “war crime” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “decision to suspend humanitarian aid is cheap blackmail, a war crime and a blatant coup against the (ceasefire) agreement”, the group said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to cease the entry of all entry the humanitarian aid into Gaza as phase one of the hostage deal ends, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
Palestinian group Hamas told AFP Sunday it insists on the implementation of a second ceasefire phase after Israel endorsed a temporary extension of the initial phase.
“The only way to achieve stability in the region and the return of the prisoners is to complete the implementation of the agreement […] starting with the implementation of the second phase,” Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi said in a statement given to AFP.
