Israel stops the supply of assist to Gaza till Hamas accepts U.S. ceasefire extension

TEL AVIV — Israel says that it’s stopping the entry of all items and provides into the Gaza Strip, citing what it described as Hamas’ refusal to just accept a U.S. proposal to increase the primary section of the six-week-old ceasefire, and threatened “further consequences.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned President Trump’s Center East Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff had proposed an extension of the primary section of the ceasefire with Hamas by means of Ramadan and Passover which may see the discharge of the remaining 59 Israeli hostages nonetheless held in Gaza. Ramadan started Friday night time and ends March 29. Passover ends on April 19.

The brand new proposal Israel has introduced would have Hamas launch half of the dwelling and useless hostages at the beginning of the seven-week ceasefire interval, and would safe the discharge of the remaining hostages by the top, if the 2 sides attain an settlement on a everlasting finish of the warfare.

“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages,” in response to an announcement from the prime minister’s workplace. “If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences.” The assertion didn’t elaborate on what penalties may comply with, however mentioned Israel had a U.S. dedication to permit it to renew the warfare if ceasefire negotiations had been deemed ineffective.

Hamas accuses Israel of blackmail

Hamas, in an announcement, accused Netanyahu of attempting to evade the framework of the ceasefire settlement that went into impact Jan. 19 after 15 months of battle sparked by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel. Greater than 48,000 Palestinians had been killed within the battle, in response to Gaza well being officers, and a lot of the buildings within the occupied Palestinian territory had been both destroyed or broken.

The ceasefire was being applied below three phases. Beneath the primary section, Palestinian Hamas militants launched 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza after being seized within the Oct. 7, 2023 assault on Israel that additionally killed round 1,200 Israelis. In change, Israel freed round 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The second section of the ceasefire was set to start Sunday, below the phrases of the deal, and see the discharge of the 59 Israeli hostages nonetheless held in Gaza, 32 of whom are believed to be useless. It additionally aimed to safe a extra everlasting finish to the battle.

However negotiations in Cairo final week failed to attain any consensus on implementation of the second section.

Hamas accused Israel of a “blatant attempt” to evade the unique settlement.

“Netanyahu’s decision to stop humanitarian aid is cheap blackmail, a war crime and a blatant coup against the agreement. The mediators and the international community must move to pressure the occupation and stop its punitive and immoral measures against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas mentioned in an announcement.

Israel mentioned that just about 21 thousand vehicles of assist entered Gaza for the reason that starting of the ceasefire in January.

Assist organizations estimated that just about the complete 2 million Palestnians dwelling in Gaza relied on this life saving assist, and there have been famine-like situations in Gaza as a result of such little assist was stepping into.

After months of counting on canned items, folks in Gaza began to slowly discover brisker greens, fruits, and frozen meats out there.

40-year previous Ibrahim Abu Sultan from Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza mentioned that the inflow of assist helped his household.

“Before the ceasefire, we would eat one meal every two or three days. Now we can at least heave a meal a day,” Abu Sultan mentioned.

The expiration of the primary section of the ceasefire coincided with the primary day of Ramadan. It was the primary Ramadan in Gaza not below Israeli bombardment for the reason that starting of the warfare.

Movies posted on-line confirmed lights and decorations strung among the many destruction of the buildings as folks gathered to interrupt the quick collectively among the many rubble of their properties.

Trump will meet a launched Israeli hostage, in response to launched hostage’s household

Eli Sharabi, who was launched from Gaza final month after 491 days in Hamas captivity, will meet with President Trump on Tuesday, Sharabi’s brother, Sharon, instructed Israeli Channel 12.

Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson, an Israeli-American, is flying the Sharabi household to Washington for the assembly, the launched hostage’s brother mentioned.

Eli Sharabi, who was kidnapped from his house in Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7, 2023, detailed the tough situations of captivity within the first prolonged interview given by an Israeli freed in a current spherical of hostage releases.

Within the interview with the Israeli tv documentary program Uvda, Sharabi described his arms and legs being shackled for the complete length of his captivity, most of which he spent in underground Hamas tunnels. He mentioned he was held with three different hostages, and spoke of putting up with excessive starvation and dropping round 66 kilos whereas he was held hostage.

Sharabi mentioned when a Hamas operative found his household’s house had been bombed by the Israeli navy, he was severely crushed, struggling damaged ribs that made it tough for him to breathe for days.

“I didn’t care about the beatings. They broke my ribs, but the hunger was worse. I just wanted them to give me half a pita,” he mentioned. “Your stomach sticks to your back. You can literally see it caving in and can’t believe it’s happening to your body.”

He referred to as on Israel to make all efforts to safe the discharge of all Israeli hostages as quickly as attainable.

Sharabi’s spouse, two daughters and brother had been killed within the Hamas-led assault Oct. 7, 2023.

Itay Stern in Tel Aviv and Ahmed Abuhamda in Cairo contributed to this report.