As phase 1 of truce ends, Israel halts aid to Gaza

KABUL (Pajhwok): With the expiry of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel on Sunday blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera reported the Jewish state also endorsed a US-backed proposal for the extension of the Gaza truce throughout Ramadan in exchange for the release of half of the remaining captives.

However, the Palestinian group Hamas insisted on the execution of phase two of the initial deal to achieve a permanent ceasefire in the enclave.

The Government Media Office in Gaza says the death toll from Israeli attacks had risen to 61,709, presuming thousands of Palestinians under the debris were dead.

Meanwhile, Hamas slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire agreement.

A statement from the group denounced the Israeli action as “a war crime and a blatant attack on the agreement”. It urged the mediators to force Israel to end punitive measures against Gaza.

Earlier, Netanyahu’s office announced the halt to all supplies into Gaza, warning of “additional consequences” if Hamas did not accept the US proposal for an extension of the ceasefire.

PAN Monitor/mud