Hamas claims Israel violates ceasefire deal and seeks war

A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, accused Israel of violating the terms of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and seeking to restart the war.

Hamdan said in a television interview that Israel is seeking war and avoiding contacts to continue the deal, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He said: “Netanyahu's recent decisions regarding the approval of US proposals to extend the first phase represent an attempt to avoid negotiations on the second phase.” 

Hamdan also demanded the entry of vital humanitarian aid into Gaza. He said Israel has only allowed the entry of 15 mobile homes (caravans) out of the agreed 65,000.

“Only 23 gasoline trucks were allowed in on the day instead of 50, various fuels for the business sector were blocked, building materials for the reconstruction of hospitals in Gaza were not allowed in,” Hamdan said.

Notably, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is facing significant challenges. Hamas has accused Israel of attempting to undermine the agreement by extending the first phase without progressing to negotiations for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In response, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on Gaza, halting food and supply entries, leading to soaring food prices and heightened humanitarian concerns.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned of resuming military operations if Hamas does not release 24 hostages and 35 bodies of Israeli citizens. The blockade and stalled negotiations have intensified fears of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

By Khagan Isayev