Israel blockades Palestinians in Gaza, seeking amendment to truce deal

To force a change to the terms of the Gaza truce deal, Israel halted the entry of all goods and supplies into the strip on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not comply with Israel’s demands, while Hamas decried the move as a “blatant” attempt from Israel to evade its commitments under the deal.

By cutting off nearly two million Palestinians’ access to food, medical supplies and fuel, Israel is attempting to pressure Hamas into extending the first phase of the truce and releasing the prisoners it still holds.

The maneuver would once again delay negotiations on phases two and three of the deal, which were due to begin a month ago and are meant to establish an agreement for the complete cessation of hostilities in the strip.

After the conclusion of the initial 42-day phase of the truce deal on Saturday, Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday morning the prime minister’s decision to halt the entry of all goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip, effective immediately.

“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without a release of our hostages,” the statement continued.

The decision to block all goods and supplies came “in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks,” Netanyahu’s office said.

The “Witkoff framework” refers to a proposal introduced last week by US Special Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to extend phase one of the ceasefire for an additional six weeks.

Witkoff himself has not disclosed the plan’s details, but an earlier statement from Netanyahu’s office confirming Israel’s consent to the extension stated that “the remaining living and deceased hostages will be released” in two groups on the first and last days of the new framework.

The framework marks a significant change to the deal. Under the agreement reached in January, all remaining Israeli men held in Gaza, including soldiers, were to be exchanged for a predetermined number of Palestinians detainees only during the second, 42-day phase. During this period, Israel was also to complete its full withdrawal from Gaza.

However, Israel has refused to begin negotiations for phase two, which were scheduled to start in early February. Mediators were expected to facilitate talks in Doha between Hamas and Israel to finalize the terms for the exchange and withdrawal.

A Hamas official, speaking to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity last week, said that Israel has deliberately stalled the ceasefire negotiations to secure the release of as many Israelis as possible in phase one and avoid implementing phase two.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen gave voice to this objective last week, setting four conditions for advancing to the second phase of the truce, including the release of all Israelis held in Gaza. He also outlined Israel’s broader goals of eliminating Hamas’s presence in Gaza, disarming the strip and establishing Israeli control over its security.

Negotiators from Qatar and Egypt were set to mediate discussions between Hamas and Israel on the strip’s future governance and security arrangements in phases two and three of the deal.

Witkoff began promoting his proposal last week amid another deadlock in negotiations, triggered by Israel’s temporary refusal to release over 600 Palestinian detainees.

The remainder of phase one was eventually reinstated after an agreement in which Hamas returned the bodies of four deceased Israeli captives, while Israel released 620 Palestinians, as well as women and children arrested since October 7, 2023.

On Sunday, Hamas issued a statement condemning Israel’s acceptance of the US proposal as “a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and avoid negotiations for its second phase,” arguing that Israel is acting “according to arrangements that violate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.”

The statement further denounced the blockade on aid as “cheap blackmail, a war crime and a blatant coup against the agreement,” calling on mediators to pressure Israel to adhere to the original three-phase deal and holding Netanyahu responsible for any actions that jeopardize the agreement.

Hamas also pointed to Israel’s daily violations of the ceasefire during phase one, which it said resulted in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians in Gaza and included restrictions on the entry of shelter and relief supplies.

No aid for Palestinians in Gaza 

No aid trucks arrived at Israeli checkpoints leading to the Karam Abu Salem and Awja crossings into Gaza for the usual inspections on Sunday morning, a Red Crescent source told Mada Masr.

A United Nations source, speaking to Mada Masr on condition of anonymity, said it remains unclear whether Netanyahu’s order applies only to commercial goods or extends to all humanitarian aid.

However, the source noted that the language of the statement suggests a total blockade, raising concerns that Israel is attempting to reset aid negotiations to pre-ceasefire conditions.

While phase one of the deal allowed for the entry of essential supplies — including fuel, medical goods, food and water — Hamas has accused Israel of restricting the delivery of materials needed for the construction of temporary housing and debris removal efforts amid the widespread destruction in Gaza.