Israel has blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza, escalating a standoff over a truce that has halted fighting for six weeks. Hamas, which controls Gaza, wants to move to the second phase of the ceasefire, but Israel says it will not release its hostages until then.
The US-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza has been accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, but Hamas rejects it, saying it is “blackmail.” The group wants to start negotiations over the release of its remaining 59 hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
A senior Hamas official said that the decision to halt aid would impact ceasefire talks, adding that his group “doesn’t respond to pressures.” Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Palestinians in Gaza will not get goods for free and further negotiations should be linked to the release of the hostages.
The conflict has killed over 48,000 Palestinians and displaced almost all of Gaza’s population. A permanent ceasefire deal is seen as crucial to ending the war, but talks have been stalled since the second phase was intended to start six months ago.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-agrees-us-plan-temporary-ceasefire-gaza-pms-office-says-2025-03-01