"Israeli" forces close Gaza crossings, halt aid after ceasefire phase one ends
On Sunday, Israeli Occupation Forces closed the Gaza Strip's crossings and halted the entry of goods and humanitarian aid following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, refusing to implement the second phase, according to the Palestinian Media Center.
The office of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that with the completion of the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal, Netanyahu decided to stop the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza starting this morning.
The statement claimed that this decision was made due to Hamas's rejection of US envoy Stephen Wittykov's proposal to continue negotiations, threatening "additional consequences."
Early today, Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardaoui emphasized that the only path to regional stability and the return of captives was the completion of the ceasefire agreement, beginning with the implementation of phase two.
In a press statement on Sunday, Mardaoui stated that the second phase ensures negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal, reconstruction, and the release of prisoners within an agreed-upon deal. "This is what we insist on, and we will not back down," he said.
He pointed out that the recent statement from Netanyahu's office, which mentioned agreeing to a truce during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, "is a clear confirmation of what we have been stressing from the beginning," referring to "Israel's" evasion of agreements.
Mardaoui stressed that the occupation repeatedly reneges on signed agreements and continues to maneuver in fulfilling its ceasefire commitments.
He warned that "this continued manipulation will not bring the captives back to their families; on the contrary, it will prolong their suffering and put their lives at risk unless pressure is exerted on the occupation to fulfill its obligations."
Last night, Netanyahu's office announced that "Israel" had agreed to the broad outlines of a ceasefire plan proposed by US envoy Stephen Wittykov for a temporary truce in Gaza during Ramadan and the Jewish Passover (Apr. 12-20). This plan had not been previously disclosed by Wittykov.
In a statement issued after a security meeting chaired by Netanyahu, attended by the defense minister, senior military leaders, and the negotiating team, it was confirmed that, according to Wittykov's proposal, half of the "Israeli" captives held in Gaza, both dead and alive, would be released on the first day of the proposed ceasefire.
The statement added that if an agreement for a permanent ceasefire is reached, the second half of the captives in Gaza would be released.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended Saturday evening, though negotiations for phase two were originally scheduled to begin on Feb. 3.
Netanyahu obstructed this process, as he sought to extend the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal in order to release as many "Israeli" captives as possible without offering any concessions or completing the obligations outlined in the previous agreements.
Hamas rejected this and demanded that Israel be held accountable for the ceasefire terms, urging mediators to immediately begin negotiations for phase two, including "Israeli" withdrawal from Gaza and a full halt to the war.
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