Israel Halts Humanitarian Aid to Gaza As Ceasefire Talks Stall

On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced that Israel has ceased all humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, following the expiration of the recent hostage-ceasefire agreement. This significant step is taken after Hamas's refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for continuing negotiations, which Israel had agreed to.

An Israeli official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the suspension of aid is fully coordinated with the Trump administration. According to the PMO, the decision was made after the completion of the first phase of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’s ongoing refusal to engage with the proposed framework. The PMO emphasized that Israel would not allow any ceasefire without the release of its hostages, and warned of consequences if Hamas continues its rejection.

Israel estimates that the 4,200 trucks delivering aid to Gaza weekly over the last few weeks will be sufficient to sustain the region for several months. This move marks a critical point in the ongoing negotiations and tensions between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas strongly condemned Israel's decision, calling the halt to humanitarian aid "a cheap act of blackmail," labeling it a "war crime," and accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. They called on mediators to press Israel to reverse its decision, claiming that Israel’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at imposing new realities on the ground.

The group also highlighted that Israel's move contradicted the terms of the agreement, particularly Article 14, which ensures the continuation of measures from the first phase into the second. Hamas demanded the continuation of negotiations as stipulated by the agreement, urging that all hostages be released together in one step.

In response to Hamas's accusations, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reaffirmed the country’s position, stating that the halt in aid was in line with the agreements made during the previous phase and was necessary to maintain leverage in ongoing negotiations. Sa'ar added that Israel had fully honored its commitments up until the very last day of the first phase, and that the next phase would only move forward if the release of hostages was achieved.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also voiced support for the decision, calling it an "important step" in applying pressure on Hamas. He further expressed the need for continued pressure on the terrorist organization until a decisive victory was achieved.

Witkoff Framework and Future Ceasefire Negotiations

The US-proposed Witkoff framework aims to provide a temporary ceasefire over the Ramadan and Passover periods. Under this plan, half of the living hostages and the remains of deceased hostages will be released in the initial phase. The full release of all hostages, if an agreement is reached, would come at the end of the framework.

However, Hamas has remained steadfast in its opposition to the Witkoff framework, increasing the uncertainty about whether a permanent ceasefire can be reached. Some families of hostages, represented by the Tikva Forum, have called for Israel to abandon the Witkoff framework entirely, demanding that all hostages be released together.