Israel Blocks Aid from Entering Gaza as Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance

What Happened?

On Sunday Israel stopped all aid from entering the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “If Hamas continues to stand firm in its position and does not release our hostages, there will be further consequences.”

HAMAS called on international mediators to persuade Israel to allow aid to continue going to Gaza, adding they would not release any more hostages until phase two of the negotiations take place. 

A spokesman for HAMAS said, “Israel is attempting to reset the process to zero and secure its captives without committing to an end to hostilities.”

Why it Matters

The original ceasefire between Israel and HAMAS called for a six-week cessation of hostilities to be followed by a second phase of negotiations. Since the time for phase one ended Saturday, and phase two negotiations have not begun, the ceasefire appears to now be in danger of collapsing.

If the ceasefire does collapse, Israel and HAMAS, along with proxies of Iran, could resume hostilities.

Of the recent move to block aid to Gaza, Netanyahu said the decision was “fully coordinated with the Trump Administration” indicating he had their approval to move forward with the blockade.

According to the Washington Post, of the 251 people taken in the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, 145 have been freed or rescued. Of the remaining hostages, 27 are believed to be alive and at least 79 killed. 

Those figures come from the Israeli government, which has not disclosed any further details on the matter.

Mediators from Qatar and Egypt have been working to get a two-week extension of the original ceasefire agreed to by Israel and HAMAS. The purpose of such an extension would be to get both Israel and HAMAS negotiators back to the table to discuss terms for a phase two of the ceasefire and how to implement it. 

An Israeli delegation was reportedly on its way to Cairo Sunday, but whether HAMAS would attend remains unclear. 

Israel proposed a fifty-day extension of the original ceasefire deal, which would cover Ramadan and Passover, but HAMAS rejected that proposal. With no new terms or agreement to continue the original ceasefire, a resumption of hostilities is now a real possibility.  

If the fighting picks up, Iranian proxies in Yemen and Lebanon could also resume hostilities, placing the Middle East once again under the threat of a regional war. 

How it Affects You

The current impasse between Israel and HAMAS is serious. 

HAMAS says it will only release the remaining hostages as part of new negotiations while Israel says the release of the remaining hostages is a pre-condition for any further discussions. 

Without a resolution to the current deadlock, the likelihood of continued fighting is high.