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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