Israel Suspends Gaza Supplies Over Hamas Rejection of U.S. Truce Extension Proposal
Israel has halted all goods into Gaza after Hamas rejected a U.S.-backed ceasefire extension. The suspension escalates tensions as the first truce phase ended. Hamas condemned the blockade, calling it a war crime amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Diplomatic efforts continue but both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
hassan benyoub 
Tel Aviv, March 2, 2025 – Israel announced on Sunday morning that it is halting all goods and supplies into Gaza, accusing Hamas of rejecting a U.S.-backed proposal to extend the fragile ceasefire. The decision, effective immediately, escalates tensions as the first phase of the truce—brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.—expired on March 1, with both sides deadlocked over next steps. Here’s the latest on this unfolding conflict.
Supplies Blocked Amid Truce Standoff
Israel’s government confirmed overnight that it had accepted a proposal from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the ceasefire, initially launched on January 19, through Ramadan and Passover until mid-April. The plan included releasing all remaining hostages in Gaza in two stages, with the second tied to negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. However, Hamas dismissed the proposal, insisting on moving to the second phase of the original deal instead.
In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that, starting Sunday morning, no goods or supplies would enter Gaza. “Faced with Hamas’s refusal to accept the framework proposed by Mr. Witkoff for continuing negotiations, which Israel agreed to, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to suspend all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip,” the statement read. It warned of “further consequences” if Hamas persists in its stance.
Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Omer Dostri, reinforced the move on X: “No trucks entered Gaza this morning, and none will until further notice. Columns of supply trucks are arriving at the crossing only to find it closed.”
Hamas Slams “War Crime” as Humanitarian Crisis Looms
Hamas swiftly condemned Israel’s decision as “cheap extortion, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the truce agreement.” The group argued that cutting off humanitarian aid—vital to a territory reeling from 15 months of war—undermines the ceasefire’s spirit. “We call on mediators and the international community to pressure Israel to end its punitive and immoral measures against over two million people in Gaza,” a Hamas statement urged.
The blockade threatens to worsen an already dire situation in Gaza, where over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed and 1.7 million displaced since the conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, per Gaza health authorities. Aid agencies warn that suspending supplies could deepen the humanitarian catastrophe, with food, water, and medical resources already scarce.
A Truce on the Brink
The ceasefire’s first phase, a 42-day pause, saw Hamas release 33 hostages—women, children, elderly men, and the sick—in exchange for Israel freeing about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. It also allowed limited aid into Gaza and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal. But as the March 1 deadline passed, talks for the second phase—envisioned as a permanent ceasefire with all remaining hostages freed—stalled.
Israel insists that any truce extension must include hostage releases, with Netanyahu’s office stating, “Israel will not accept a ceasefire without the liberation of our hostages.” Hamas, however, claims the U.S. proposal lets Israel dodge commitments from the original deal, accusing Netanyahu of playing “dirty games” to sabotage progress.
Diplomatic Efforts and Global Reaction
The truce, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., was hailed as a breakthrough when it began in January, ending over a year of relentless fighting sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Yet, with 64 hostages still in Gaza—some feared dead—the path forward remains fraught.
Posts on X reflect growing alarm, with users noting blocked aid trucks at crossings and labeling the suspension a “humanitarian crisis trigger.” Mediators are reportedly scrambling to salvage the process, but neither side has signaled a retreat from their red lines.
What’s Next?
Israel’s supply cutoff marks a bold pressure tactic, risking a collapse of the ceasefire and a return to open conflict. Hamas’s defiance, coupled with its demand for a full Israeli withdrawal, sets the stage for a tense standoff. As Ramadan and Passover approach, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene before Gaza’s plight worsens.
