A Fragile Ceasefire on the Brink: Israel and Hamas Face Off Over Aid and Hostages
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, already fraying at the edges, took a ominous turn on Sunday when Israel announced it would halt all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip. This drastic measure was reportedly taken after Hamas rejected a new proposal aimed at extending the fragile truce. Israel warned of "additional consequences" if Hamas did not accept the terms of the proposal. Meanwhile, Hamas fired back, accusing Israel of attempting to sabotage the existing ceasefire deal. It described Israel’s decision to cut off aid as "cheap extortion," a "war crime," and a direct attack on the truce, which had been in place since January after over a year of grueling negotiations. Despite the rhetoric, neither side explicitly declared the ceasefire over, leaving the situation precariously balanced.
The Ceasefire’s Rocky First Phase
The first phase of the ceasefire, which expired on Saturday, had brought a temporary lull in the violence. During this period, humanitarian aid surged into Gaza, offering some relief to its beleaguered population. Under the initial agreement, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and pulled its forces back from most of Gaza. However, the truce was fraught with tensions, as both sides accused each other of violations. Israeli strikes during this period killed dozens of Palestinians, whom Israel claimed had breached the terms of the ceasefire. On Sunday, another airstrike in northern Gaza reportedly killed two men, further straining the fragile peace.
A New Proposal and Aid Cutoff
The latest proposal, which Israel claims was crafted by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, seeks to extend the ceasefire through Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on April 20. Under the terms of this proposal, Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages on the first day of the extended truce and the rest once a permanent ceasefire is finalized. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar emphasized Israel’s willingness to negotiate but insisted that more hostages must be freed during the talks. He also revealed that the Biden administration had sent a side letter stating there was no automatic transition between the phases of the truce.
Hamas, however, has rejected the new proposal outright. The group warned that any attempt to delay or alter the existing ceasefire agreement would have dire "humanitarian consequences" for the hostages. Hamas reiterated its stance that the only path to freeing the captives was through the full implementation of the original deal, which did not specify a timeline for the release of the remaining hostages. The group has expressed willingness to free all the hostages at once during Phase 2, but only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The Humanitarian Toll of the Conflict
The conflict has taken a devastating toll on Gaza’s population. Even before the latest aid cutoff, hundreds of aid trucks entered Gaza daily since the ceasefire began on January 19. Now, the suspension of aid has raised fears of worsening humanitarian conditions. UN agencies and aid groups have accused Israel of not facilitating enough aid during the 15-month war, while the Biden administration has repeatedly pressured Israel to allow more humanitarian assistance. Experts have warned of widespread hunger in Gaza, with the risk of famine looming large.
The International Criminal Court has gone so far as to allege that Israel may have used "starvation as a method of warfare," a charge Israel vehemently denies. The country maintains that it has allowed sufficient aid to enter Gaza and blames shortages on the UN’s inability to distribute supplies effectively. Israel has also accused Hamas of diverting aid for its own purposes.
A Conflict with No End in Sight
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. To date, 59 hostages remain in captivity, with 32 believed to be dead. Israel’s military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with more than half of the victims being women and children. The conflict has left Gaza in ruins, with large areas reduced to rubble and 90% of the population displaced at the height of the fighting.
As the ceasefire teeters on the edge of collapse, mediators are scrambling to prevent a full-scale resumption of hostilities. Egypt, a key player in the negotiations, has made it clear that it will not accept any proposal that does not bring an end to the war. For now, the fate of the hostages, the people of Gaza, and the fragile ceasefire hangs in the balance, as both sides digging in their heels, unwilling to budge. The international community can only watch and hope that a resolution is reached before the situation spirals further out of control.
