Key points
- Hamas accuses Israel of trying to derail ceasefire
- Palestinian group calls Gaza aid cutoff ‘extortion’
- Gazans mark Ramazan amid rubble and destruction
ISLAMABAD: Israel has stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and reneged on the truce after the first phase of the ceasefire deal ended without agreement on continuing into a second phase, according to media reports.
According to the Associated Press (AP), it was not immediately clear if the supply of aid has been completely halted.
“A blatant attack”
Hamas has accused Israel of trying to derail the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by embracing a new proposal to extend it, AP reported. Hamas said Israel’s decision to cut off aid to the territory on Sunday amounted to “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the (ceasefire) agreement,” different media outlets reported.
Earlier, Al-Jazeera reported that Israel announced it would adopt a US-backed proposal for the extension of the ceasefire in Gaza throughout Ramadan, in exchange for the release of half of the remaining captives in the enclave.
The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday.
Holy month of Ramadan
The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas was to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire, AP reported.
According to media reports, there was no immediate comment from the United States, Egypt or Qatar, who have been mediating between Israel and Hamas for over a year. Hamas has not yet responded to the proposal.
Palestinians in Gaza marked their first day of fasting for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, amid the rubble and destruction.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed 48,388 Palestinian deaths in Israel’s war on Gaza, while 111,803 people have been wounded, according to Al-Jazeera.
