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Israel has stopped the entry of aid into Gaza as it seeks to force Hamas to agree to a US proposal for a temporary ceasefire covering the periods of Ramadan and Jewish Passover.
Hamas, which has sought instead to move to a second phase of the existing ceasefire deal, is yet to respond to the proposal.
After stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Israel warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas did not accept the US proposal.
US president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff proposed the extension after it became apparent that more time was needed for talks on a permanent ceasefire, Reuters reported.
The ceasefire extension would run throughout the Islamic Ramadan fasting period ending around 31 March, and the Jewish Passover holiday that ends around 20 April.
Israel said it would immediately start negotiations on Witkoff’s plan if Hamas agreed to it.
Under the deal, Israel seeks to have half of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza – both alive and dead – to be released on the first day.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the ceasefire extension hours after the first phase of a previously agreed one expired.
The initial phase, beginning on 19 January, halted a 15-month Israeli ground invasion into Gaza and enabled the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais captured by Hamas during its deadly 7 October attack in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinians detained and held by Israel.
The ceasefire deal included a mechanism to move to negotiations for a lasting peace, with Hamas seeking a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
While the Israeli delegation sought to extend the first phase by 42 days, Hamas seeks to move to the second phase, Reuters reported, citing Cairo officials privy to the matter.
But Palestinian officials told Reuters that Israel refused to enter the second phase of the deal.
Instead, Israel reportedly requests an extension of the first phase with a conditioned handover of a specified number of living prisoners and bodies for each week of extension.
Hamas rejected an extension of the first phase, and insisted on adhering to the agreement.
It seeks to enter the second phase, obliging Israel to what was agreed upon.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the first phase of the deal, and since the initial ceasefire has technically expired, there may be renewed violence.
“According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it feels that the negotiations are ineffective,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said the statement was an affirmation that Israel disavowed the deals it previously signed.
“This continued manipulation will not return the hostages to their families.. But on the contrary… it will lead to their continued suffering and endangering their lives,” Mr Mardawi said.
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