On Sunday, Israel announced the suspension of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, intensifying pressure on Hamas to adhere to what Israel describes as a U.S.-backed plan to prolong the ceasefire. Although specifics of this decision were not provided, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office has cautioned Hamas against rejecting the proposal, hinting at potential repercussions.
The initial phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire that saw an increase in humanitarian support came to a halt on Saturday. An agreement for the subsequent phase, which involves hostage exchanges and a potential Israeli military withdrawal, is still pending.
Earlier on Sunday, Israel expressed support for extending the existing ceasefire phase, proposing a continuation through Ramadan and Passover till April 20. This initiative, attributed to Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, calls for Hamas to release half of the captives initially, and the rest following a sustainable ceasefire agreement, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
No immediate responses have been received from the U.S., Egypt, or Qatar, current mediators in the Israel-Hamas negotiations. Hamas has yet to comment on the proposal.