Israel has blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid to Gaza as it demands Hamas accept a U.S. plan for the extension of the ceasefire. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, expired on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed Hamas was refusing to agree to a temporary extension proposed by Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff. A spokesperson for Hamas denounced the blockade of supplies to Gaza as "cheap blackmail" and an "attack" on the ceasefire agreement, urging mediators to intervene.
The ceasefire brought to a halt 15 months of clashes between Hamas and the Israeli army, allowing the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The internationally mediated ceasefire plan, originally proposed by Joe Biden, has three phases. The first phase began on January 19 and lapsed on Saturday. Negotiations for the second phase, aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire and the release of all remaining living hostages, were supposed to have started weeks ago but have barely progressed. The third phase is focused on returning all deceased hostages’ bodies and the reconstruction of Gaza, a task anticipated to take years.
Hamas has previously stated it would not accept any extension of the first phase without guarantees from the mediators ensuring the second phase would eventually occur. When the first phase expired on Saturday, Netanyahu's office indicated Israel accepted Witkoff's proposal to extend the ceasefire for about six weeks, coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover. If negotiations deadlock after this period, Israel reserves the right to resume hostilities.
Witkoff has not made his proposal public. According to Israel, it would commence with the release of half of the remaining hostages, both alive and deceased. Israel maintains Witkoff suggested the temporary extension after realizing more time was necessary to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas over conditions to end the war.
A statement from Netanyahu's office read: "With the end of Phase 1 of the hostage agreement and in light of Hamas's refusal to accept Witkoff's plan to continue negotiations, to which Israel has agreed, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to completely halt the entry of goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip. Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be more consequences."
The Hamas spokesperson responded, saying, "Netanyahu's decision to halt aid to Gaza once again shows the cruel face of the Israeli occupation... The international community must exert pressure on the Israeli government to stop starving our people." Humanitarian agencies confirmed on Sunday morning no aid trucks were allowed entry to Gaza. Antoine Renard from the World Food Programme (WFP) remarked, "Humanitarian assistance must continue to flow to Gaza; it is fundamental. We call on all parties to guarantee a solution." Since the ceasefire was agreed upon mid-January, thousands of trucks have entered Gaza each week. Humanitarian agencies managed to stockpile supplies, which means Israel's decision on Sunday does not immediately endanger the civilian population.
Egypt has urged the full implementation of the previously agreed ceasefire. The Egyptian Foreign Minister announced at an Arab emergency summit on Tuesday, the country would present a plan for reconstructing Gaza without displacing its population. This Sunday, medical services reported four fatalities due to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. The Israeli army claimed it attacked individuals who were placing explosives in the northern territories. There are approximately 24 hostages still believed alive, with another 39 presumed dead. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. Israel reciprocated with extensive aerial and ground campaigns on Gaza, leading to at least 48,365 fatalities.
On another front, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on March 1, 2025, they are entering ceasefire negotiations with Turkey, responding to their imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call to end hostilities after four decades of armed struggle. Political scientist Nicolas Monceau from the University of Bordeaux underscored the significance of this move, stating, "This declaration from Öcalan is of historical importance; it aims for disarmament and the dissolution of the organization after forty years of conflict." Previous ceasefires have collapsed, raising questions about this initiative's potential for long-term success.
Monceau highlighted the challenges this peace process faces: "Always exists the risk of factions within the PKK or more radical components not adhering to the leader's call for dissolution and disarmament. Among younger generations of Kurds, some may feel disillusioned or regard the state of political affairs as unfavorable for such historic decisions." He also referred to possible provocations or incidents, whether initiated by PKK elements or security forces, which could fuel renewed conflicts.
Despite attempts for peace, divisions persist. The Turkish opposition, particularly among nationalists, has voiced their resistance to the ceasefire. Political backing varies widely among different factions; the Republican People's Party (CHP) has supported the call for peace, illustrating the fractured political climate.
"The public trauma stemming from 40 years of conflict must be addressed, especially since it has left over 40,000 dead and extensive destruction," stated Monceau, pointing to the necessity for public acknowledgment of the peace process. He added, "The Turkish government must also address questions about the future of Öcalan and the broader recognition of Kurdish rights and freedoms." The potential for the ceasefire to stabilize morale and impact regional stability, especially concerning Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq, looms large. The interplay of these complex dynamics highlights the fragile nature of this new peace proposal.