Israel has threatened Hamas with “consequences” if the Palestinian group does not agree to extend the now-ended phase one of the ceasefire agreement, following a proposal put forward by U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas has dismissed Israel’s move as “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the agreement.
The first phase of the ceasefire concluded on Saturday, but Israel has not yet advanced to the second phase, which was intended to lead to a permanent end to the war. A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, released early Sunday, came shortly after phase one ended, while talks on the second phase remain unresolved. On the same day, Israel announced it was halting the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip.
According to Witkoff’s plan, half of the captives, both living and deceased, would be released on the first day, with the remainder freed if a permanent ceasefire is achieved, Netanyahu’s office stated. The statement also warned that Israel could resume military operations if negotiations prove “ineffective.” It added that Israel would immediately engage in negotiations on the details of the Witkoff plan if Hamas changes its position.
Hamas had earlier rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire during Ramadan and Passover, insisting on moving to the second phase as originally planned. In response to Israel’s threat to cut off aid, Hamas called the move “a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and avoid entering into negotiations for its second phase.” The group accused Netanyahu of “cheap blackmail,” labeling his decision a “war crime” and a “coup against the agreement.” Hamas asserted that Netanyahu was attempting to impose political realities on the ground that his forces had failed to establish during 15 months of conflict, adding that he was prioritizing narrow political interests over the lives of Israeli captives in Gaza.
### Tensions Rise Amid Uncertainty
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from southern Gaza, noted that Palestinians in the enclave were “very stressed” and felt the ceasefire was “very fragile.” She observed Israeli jets and drones hovering overhead, creating fear that Israeli forces could strike anywhere in the Strip at any moment.
Stephen Zunes, director of Middle Eastern studies at the University of San Francisco, criticized the U.S. proposal as biased toward Israel. He told Al Jazeera that this was a recurring pattern, with Israel revising agreements in its favor and the U.S. supporting such moves, then blaming Hamas for rejecting the revised terms. Zunes also noted that Israel’s refusal to engage in talks for the second phase was placing Hamas in a “difficult situation.”
### Calls for Ceasefire to Hold
Humanitarian organizations have emphasized the necessity of maintaining the ceasefire to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza, which has been devastated by the war. The World Food Programme stated on X that “the impact of safe and sustained humanitarian access is evident,” urging, “The ceasefire must hold. There can be no going back.”
Although the ceasefire has held since it began on January 19, Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO) has reported over 350 violations by Israel, including military incursions, gunfire, air raids, intensified surveillance, and obstruction of aid. The GMO also stated that the Israeli army has killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians in air attacks and shootings since the ceasefire began.
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