On March 2, trucks filled with humanitarian aid waited on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, ready to enter the Gaza Strip. Getty Images
On Sunday, Israel announced it had stopped all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza after Hamas rejected a proposed extension of the ceasefire agreement. The first phase of the deal, which expired on Saturday, allowed the release of hostages and prisoners, along with aid shipments. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, supported a U.S.-backed proposal to extend the ceasefire temporarily, hoping to continue the release of hostages and aid during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday Passover.
The proposal suggested that half of the hostages in Gaza should be released on the day the ceasefire extension begins. However, Hamas quickly rejected the idea, accusing Netanyahu and his government of attempting to undermine the agreement that had already been made. This led to Israel halting all shipments of goods and supplies into Gaza. Netanyahu’s office stated that, because Hamas refused to accept the extension framework proposed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, they had no choice but to suspend the aid.
The Israeli government warned of additional consequences if Hamas continues to reject the proposal. Israel made it clear that they would not allow a ceasefire without the release of all remaining hostages. Hamas, on the other hand, called Israel's move "cheap blackmail" and labeled it a "war crime." They appealed to mediators to pressure Israel into ending its actions, which they described as punitive and immoral.
Egypt, which has been helping mediate the ceasefire talks, strongly condemned Israel’s decision. The Egyptian government rejected the politicization of humanitarian aid and criticized Israel for using aid as leverage. Despite this, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said Israel was still open to continuing negotiations, including talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which would involve a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. However, he clarified that there was no automatic continuation of the first phase and that the aid suspension was part of the deal's expiration.
The halt of aid is especially concerning for Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly 17 months of war. Many residents depend entirely on humanitarian supplies, and aid agencies have warned that suspending deliveries will worsen the already dire conditions in the area. The International Red Cross said that halting the aid would set back the progress made in the past few weeks. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) also voiced concerns, stating that Gaza still urgently needs more aid, regardless of the political situation.
Hamas’s actions, including the release of a propaganda video showing Israeli hostages, have added to the tension. The video showed a hostage bidding farewell to his brother, who remains in captivity. The family of the hostages called on Israeli officials to continue negotiations and bring all hostages home in one phase, warning that time is running out.
The ceasefire agreement had already led to the release of dozens of hostages and prisoners. Since January, 33 Israeli hostages, including two men held for a decade, were freed, alongside 1,737 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children. However, with the end of the first phase, the future of the deal remains uncertain, as both sides continue to dig in their heels.
