Hamas has accused Israel of pushing the Gaza ceasefire process back to "square one," rejecting calls to extend the current temporary truce and demanding immediate negotiations for a lasting peace. This move by Hamas has heightened regional tensions, leaving the future uncertain.
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03-04, 2025Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the blocking of all aid supplies into Gaza, a move that sparked strong reactions in the Arab world and was widely condemned as a blatant violation of international law. Netanyahu stated that this action was a response to Hamas's rejection of an American proposal, aimed at securing the release of more Israeli hostages, to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement until mid-April. While the plan is believed to have originated with U.S. President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, the White House has largely left the responsibility of detailing it to the Israeli government.
Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan said in a video statement that Israel is deviating from the phased peace negotiation agreement reached in January, delaying negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire. Hamdan stated, "The occupation is pushing to bring things back to square one and to overturn the agreement with its presented alternatives, such as extending the first phase or creating intermediate phases and other proposals that do not comply with what was stipulated in the agreement signed by both parties." He added, "Netanyahu's recent decision to adopt the American proposal...contradicts the agreement that has been reached, and we consider this a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and avoid entering the second phase of negotiations."
Hamdan further condemned Netanyahu and his extremist government for engaging in "cheap blackmail" against the Palestinian people, using humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip. The Israeli Prime Minister had previously stated that Hamas needs to understand there will be no more "free lunches" and blocked aid to the Gaza Strip. Hamas responded by saying that Israel's decision was tantamount to a "war crime." The proposal for a temporary extension of the ceasefire agreement required Hamas to immediately release more than half of the 59 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, more than half of whom are believed to be dead, but offered no guarantees regarding the process of negotiating a lasting peace.
Arab nations have condemned Israel's decision following the announcement of the aid blockade. Saudi Arabia called on the international community to stop "Israel's serious violations." Egypt accused Israel of using starvation as "a weapon against the Palestinian people." Jordan stated that the decision threatens to "reignite the situation in Gaza." Arab leaders will meet in Cairo to discuss the future of Gaza and attempt to develop a plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip as an alternative to ideas put forward, but not fully explained, by U.S. President Trump. Reuters reported that the Egyptian government will propose replacing Hamas as the governing authority in Gaza with a new oversight body to manage aid and reconstruction, which would be controlled by Arab, Muslim, and Western countries. Hamas has previously rejected proposals to impose new governance arrangements on the Palestinian people. Israel has stated that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which exercises partial control over the occupied West Bank, cannot play any role in the governance of Gaza. Negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire need to address the long-term administration of the Gaza Strip, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.
