Hamas has accused Israel of attempting to collapse the current Gaza ceasefire agreement. A Hamas official criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to extend the initial phase of the ceasefire, alleging it as a tactic to avoid subsequent negotiations involving Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In response, Netanyahu’s office announced a blockade on Gaza due to Hamas’s rejection of a U.S. proposal to continue the ceasefire and facilitate hostage releases. This blockade has drawn condemnation from countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, as well as international organizations, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians and violating international law. The Arab League is set to discuss alternatives, including a new Egyptian plan that marginalizes Hamas. Humanitarian agencies and global leaders have expressed alarm over the blockade’s potential catastrophic impact on Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation.
