Israel announced on Sunday that he immediately stopped the entry of all goods and humanitarian assistance to Gaza, trying to make Hamas strong to accept a temporary extension From the cessation of fire to the enclave: a movement that disrupts the existing and agreed framework to negotiate a permanent end of the war and puts the destiny of the hostages in a non -registered territory.
Draconian stoppage of goods and aid, including fuel, is also likely to worsen the conditions of the approximately two million Gaza inhabitants, after the 15 -month war left much of the ruined coastal enclave.
The initial phase of six weeks of the original agreement between Israel and Hamas expired on Saturday. Although he was punctured by mishaps and mutual accusations of rape, he finally saw at least a temporary cessation in the fighting and the exchange of 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight deaths for about 1,500 prisoners and detainees Palestinians. This agreement also allowed a significant increase in aid to Gaza.
The next phase of the agreement requested a complete withdrawal of the Israeli troops of Gaza and a commitment to a permanent cessation in exchange for the release of all the remaining living hostages in Gaza.
Instead, hours before his announcement on the arrest of aid, Israel proposed an extension of seven weeks from the cessation of temporary fire, during which Hamas must release half of the remaining living hostages, as well as the remains of half of the deceased. Following the conclusion of this extension, if an agreement was reached with a permanent cessation, all the remaining hostages should then be published, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
« Israel will not allow a cessation of fire without the release of our hostages, » Mr. Netanyahu said on Sunday in a statement.
« If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be more consequences, » he added.
Hamas immediately rejected the Israeli Gambit, issuing a statement on Sunday describing aid in aid as « cheap blackmail, war crime and a blatant blatant of the agreement. »
Israel attributed the new proposal to the work of the north -American envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff. The existing agreement was negotiated between Israel and Hamas through third country mediators, including the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
Last year, United Nations and Help organizations repeatedly warned about a hunger downhill In Gaza, in the midst of the widespread famine during the war, which was caused by the attack by Hamas to Israel. While the goods are more available now, many Gazans say they cannot afford to buy -many are dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Palestinians in Gaza were already struggling to celebrate the Holy Month of RamadanThat started this weekend, and is usually a cheerful time in the Muslim calendar.
Two Israeli officials, talking about the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said that the Government believed that with the help and property that entered the enclave in recent months and during the temporary cessation, there were enough supplies to Gaza for several more months. They did not offer more details.
Officials added that new restrictions would not be applied to the water inlet.
By virtue of the existing fire cessation agreement, Israel had begun to have begun to remove his troops from the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic land strip along the Gaza border with Egypt. There was no movement on Sunday.
The office of Mr. Netanyahu said that the proposed temporal cessation should be extended over the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and through the Easter Jewish holidays, which ends on April 20. In total, it is believed that about 25 hostages are still alive in Gaza. Hamas also maintains the remains of more than 30 that are believed to be dead.
Following the conclusion of this extension, if an agreement was reached with a permanent cessation, then all the remaining hostages would be released, said Mr. Netanyahu’s office.
« Steve Witkoff proposed framework to expand the cessation of fire after gaining the impression that, at present, there was no possibility of resorting between the positions on the sides at the end of the war and that there was an additional time for talks on a permanent cessation, » added the declaration of the Prime Minister.
The Israeli government has been categorical that the war in Gaza cannot end that Hamas is unarmed and eliminated from power there, terms that Hamas has largely rejected.
On Sunday, Israel also proposed the spectrum to resume the struggle in Gaza, noting in the statement that, according to the original agreement, Israel could again fight at this time « if he gets the impression that negotiations have been ineffective ».
Hamas is unlikely to accept Israel’s new offer without further negotiations, said Aaron David Miller, Going an analyst and negotiator of the Middle East of State, who is now a senior companion to the Carnegie endowment for international peace. The proposal, he said, « allows the Israelis to recover the hostages without reciprocal commitments. »
Eve Sampson contributed to New York reports and Myra Novck of Jerusalem.
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