Israel has completely stopped the entry of all types of goods into the besieged Gaza Strip. On Sunday (March 2), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the decision, stating that it was made because Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said, “With the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas rejected the proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to continue discussions, which Israel had agreed to. Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that starting this morning, all supply of goods to the Gaza Strip will be halted.”
Netanyahu warned that if Hamas wants a ceasefire, they must release the hostages. He emphasized that there will be no ceasefire without the release of hostages and threatened harsher measures if Hamas does not agree to extend the ceasefire.
The ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas began on January 19, with a three-phase agreement. The first phase was to last 42 days, with discussions for a permanent ceasefire scheduled to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. However, Israel has not started these discussions and is instead trying to extend the first phase, which Hamas has rejected.
Israel proposed that if the first phase of the ceasefire is extended, Hamas would return half of the hostages—both alive and deceased—on the first day. If both sides agree to a permanent ceasefire, the remaining hostages would be released. Hamas has outright rejected this proposal.