Israel has halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza following Hamas’s rejection of a U.S.-proposed ceasefire during Ramadan. This decision has elicited strong condemnation from Hamas and international figures, including Egypt, amid concerns about the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza’s civilian population. Negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire have not commenced, leading to continued tensions and potential repercussions in the region.
The initial phase of the ceasefire arrangement in the Gaza Strip concluded on Sunday morning without initiating negotiations for the subsequent phase, which was to commence on February 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a complete halt to all goods and supplies entering Gaza due to Hamas’s rejection of a temporary truce proposal suggested by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
In response, Hamas condemned Netanyahu’s decision, labeling it as “cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the agreement.” The movement urged international mediators to compel Israel to cease its punitive actions against the civilian population in Gaza, which numbers over two million.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire during Ramadan, contingent upon the release of half of the living and deceased hostages on the first day of the agreement. However, it emphasized that Hamas had repudiated this proposal.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty condemned Israel’s actions, declaring the employment of aid as a weapon for collective punishment and starvation in Gaza as unacceptable. He also indicated that a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza had been finalized and would be presented at an emergency Arab summit on Tuesday.
This situation unfolds as U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Israel following U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address next week. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, initiated on January 19, consists of three 42-day phases, stipulating that negotiations for the next phase must commence before the current phase concludes, a process that Netanyahu has postponed.
During the first phase, Israel released 33 hostages, including eight deceased individuals, in return for 1,755 Palestinian prisoners. The Islamic Jihad Movement accused Netanyahu of undermining the ceasefire agreement, holding him accountable for the resulting implications of his actions.
The government media office in Gaza characterized Israel’s decision to obstruct humanitarian aid as “further proof of its failure to uphold its commitments and its deliberate starvation of Gaza’s population,” emphasizing the dire economic collapse in Gaza, which has left its people entirely reliant on humanitarian aid with all industries shut down due to the ongoing Israeli military actions.
The recent suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as announced by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, stems from Hamas’s rejection of a U.S.-proposed ceasefire during Ramadan. The situation exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over two million civilians are affected. Egypt has condemned these actions and plans to address a reconstruction strategy at an upcoming summit, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention to mitigate the crisis. Netanyahu’s government faces criticism from both Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement, highlighting the tensions surrounding the ceasefire agreement and its impact on the ongoing conflict in the region.
Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com
