Israel attempts to force a change to terms of ceasefire agreement by cutting off aid to Gaza

Israel has cut off humanitarian supplies to Gaza in an effort to force Hamas into accepting a change in the ceasefire agreement to allow for the release of hostages without the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

- Julian Borger

The office of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said yesterday it was imposing a blockade on Gaza because Hamas would not accept a plan apparently put forward by the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to extend phase one of the ceasefire and continue to release hostages, and postpone phase two, which envisaged an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

A statement from Netanyahu's office said: "With the end of phase one of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas's refusal to accept the Witkoff outline for continuing talks - to which Israel agreed - Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that, as of this morning, all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease. Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences."

The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, called for Israel to end the blockade immediately.

The existence and details of a Witkoff plan had not been confirmed by Washington by yesterday evening. A statement from Hamas called the suspension of aid a war crime and a violation of the ceasefire agreement. It said Netanyahu's "decision to suspend humanitarian aid is cheap blackmail, a war crime and a blatant coup against the [ceasefire] agreement".