Hamas says Israel trying to derail ceasefire as Gaza aid cut off
It comes after the first phase of the ceasefire expired on Saturday.
Hamas has accused Israel of trying to derail the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by embracing a new proposal to extend it.
The militant group said Israel’s decision to cut off aid to the territory on Sunday amounts to “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement”.
Israel had earlier said it is stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into Gaza, warning of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not accept what Israel says is a US proposal for an extension of the ceasefire.
It was not immediately clear if the supply of aid had been completely halted.
The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday.
The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas is expected to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire.
Israel has said it supports a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, or April 20. It said the proposal came from the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Under that proposal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
