Israel announced on Sunday that it is suspending the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip as tensions rise over the extension of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The move comes as a response to Hamas' refusal to accept a new proposal for extending the truce, with Israel warning of 'additional consequences' if the offer is not agreed upon.
Hamas, on the other hand, has accused Israel of attempting to disrupt the fragile ceasefire and labeled the decision to cut off aid as 'cheap extortion, a war crime, and a blatant attack on the agreement.'
The initial phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included an increase in humanitarian aid, expired on Saturday. The parties are yet to engage in discussions regarding the second phase, which was supposed to involve the release of remaining hostages by Hamas in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire.
Israel has expressed support for a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire until April 20, encompassing the holy months of Ramadan and Passover. The proposal, put forth by the Trump administration's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, outlines a plan where Hamas would release half of the hostages initially and the remainder upon reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement, as per the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the United States, Egypt, or Qatar, who have been acting as mediators between Israel and Hamas for over a year.
For more updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict, visit AP's war coverage.
