Israel blocked aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday, escalating a standoff over the ceasefire as Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend the first phase of the truce rather than move forward with negotiations for a permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced it had accepted a U.S.-backed proposal for a temporary truce until after Ramadan (March 31) and Passover (April 20). However, Hamas rejected the plan, insisting that Israel must honor the original agreement and move to the next phase of negotiations.
"We call on mediators to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations under the agreement," Hamas said, calling the aid blockade "blackmail."
Israel demands that all remaining hostages be released before agreeing to a permanent truce. Hamas, which has already released 33 hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, insists the next phase of the ceasefire must begin before further exchanges take place.
The Israeli military reported that four Palestinians were killed on Sunday, alleging they were involved in hostile activity.
After blocking aid into Gaza, Israel announced it was sending a delegation to Cairo to discuss ways to defuse tensions.
"Palestinians will not get goods for free," said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, linking any further relief to hostage releases.
The United States has signaled support for Israel’s decision to halt aid, blaming Hamas for the deadlock.
Israel insists Hamas must be eliminated, rejecting any role for the group in Gaza’s postwar governance. Hamas, while open to stepping aside, demands to be consulted on any future administration.
Meanwhile, Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population and redevelop the area under U.S. control has been widely rejected by Arab nations.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Kouri Richins, a U.S. woman who penned a children’s book about bereavement after the death of her husband has been found guilty of killing him.
A court in Baku has sentenced a French national, Martin Ryan, to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty of espionage, according to reporting by Reuters and other outlets citing the Russian state news agency RIA.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The European Union will send a team to Armenia to counter democratic threats ahead of its parliamentary elections in June.
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of killing at least 400 people and injuring 250 others in an air strike on a drug treatment centre in Kabul on Monday night (16 March).
The U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad came under fire from rockets and drones early on Tuesday (17 March), as the the Middle East conflict enters its 18th day.
Governments around the world are responding cautiously to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send naval ships to the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping and help restore the flow of global oil supplies.
Kyrgyzstan lawmaker Shairbek Tashiev has resigned from parliament after being questioned by investigators. The Central Election Commission confirmed it has formally terminated his parliamentary mandate.
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