Israel stops entry of aid, supplies into Gaza Strip; Hamas calls it 'war crime'

Israel on Sunday announced that it has ceased the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu did not provide details on the decision but warned of "additional consequences" in case Hamas does not agree to what Israel describes as a US -backed proposal to extend the ceasefire.

It still remains unclear whether all humanitarian aid deliveries have been entirely halted.

The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which brought more humanitarian aid and was meant to have Hamas release hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal, expired on Saturday.

Meanwhile, negotiations for the second phase are yet to take place.

Earlier, Israel said said that it supports a proposal, presented by Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, which extended the ceasefire’s first phase until April 20, covering both Ramzan and Passover.

Under the plan, Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages on the first day, with the rest to be freed once an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire.

However, Hamas accused Israel of trying to block the ceasefire and called its decision to cut off aid to Gaza an act of "extortion."

Hamas called Israel's decision to block the aid a "cheap blackmail" and a "coup" of the ceasefire agreement, news agency Reuters reported.

It called the aid halt “a blatant attack on the ceasefire agreement, a war crime, and an act of cheap extortion.”

Hamas further claimed that by endorsing a new proposal for extending the truce, Israel was working to undermine the already fragile ceasefire.