The ceasefire in Gaza faces a deadlock as Israel halts humanitarian aid following Hamas’s rejection of a truce proposal. Netanyahu cites security concerns, while Hamas decries the decision as coercion. Egypt condemns the action, highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the economy has collapsed. A reconstruction plan is set for discussion at a forthcoming Arab summit.
The ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip entered its first phase, which concluded at dawn on Sunday, without initiating discussions for the subsequent phase due to the stalemate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a comprehensive halt on all goods and supplies into Gaza starting Sunday morning, attributing this decision to Hamas’s rejection of a temporary truce proposal for Ramadan presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
In response to Israel’s actions, Hamas condemned the halt of humanitarian aid, labeling it as “cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the agreement.” The organization urged international mediators to exert pressure on Israel to cease its punitive measures against the over two million civilians residing in Gaza. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had accepted the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire during Ramadan, contingent upon the release of hostages by Hamas, which the group declined.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty criticized Israel’s decision, describing the use of humanitarian aid as a tool of collective punishment and starvation as unacceptable. He also revealed that a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza has been finalized and will be presented at the emergency Arab summit scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to visit Israel following President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address.
The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, which commenced on 19 January, was organized into three 42-day phases. The agreement explicitly required that negotiations for the next phase begin prior to the conclusion of the current one, a process that Netanyahu has reportedly delayed. During this initial phase, 33 Israeli hostages, including eight deceased individuals, were released in exchange for 1,755 Palestinian prisoners.
The Islamic Jihad Movement accused Netanyahu of undermining the ceasefire agreement and stated that he must bear the consequences of his actions. Furthermore, the government media office in Gaza characterized Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid as “further proof of its failure to uphold its commitments and its deliberate starvation of Gaza’s population,” highlighting the dire economic crisis resulting from the ongoing Israeli military operations.
The ongoing stalemate in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations has led to Israel’s significant decision to suspend humanitarian aid, drawing sharp criticism from Hamas and Egypt. As negotiations have stalled, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with Gaza’s economy collapsing and the population becoming increasingly dependent on external aid. The repercussions of these developments underscore the urgent need for renewed dialogue and the resolution of the conflict.
Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com
