Israel’s decision to cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza for the first time in more than a year signals a renewed zero-tolerance attitude toward Hamas after the group rejected a US-led proposal to extend a ceasefire.

“If Hamas thinks the ceasefire can continue without our hostages being released, they are very wrong,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. “There will be no free lunches.”

After the first stage of the Gaza ceasefire expired early on Sunday, Israel is unlikely to relent unless Hamas makes concessions, given the firm support for its approach by the US and Netanyahu’s hawkish coalition partners.

The proposal by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, would prolong the ceasefire through mid-April and include the phased release of all remaining 59 Hamas-held hostages, with a second-batch release pending agreements on a permanent ceasefire. As many as 24 of them are thought to be alive, Netanyahu said.

Israel hasn’t made it clear how long it will hold off resuming military attacks, though Netanyahu said that “if Hamas continues to entrench itself in its position, there will be further consequences” – a hint at possibly renewing attacks.

Netanyahu said that per the original agreement, Israel can return to fighting after 42 days, meaning Sunday, “yet, we agreed to Witkoff’s proposal because we are committed to freeing our hostages,” he said.

Move ‘a tool of blackmail’

Thousands of Hamas operatives crossed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. In the ensuing war with Israel, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Vast stretches of the territory have been reduced to rubble.

The Palestinian Authority, which partially runs the West Bank, said that “it unequivocally rejects the politicisation of humanitarian aid and its exploitation as a tool of blackmail.”

It called upon the international community to take decisive action against the Israeli decision.

In Gaza, shortly after news circulated, food prices started soaring as the Muslim population began observing the holy month of Ramadan, when food shopping is a sacred ritual. Throughout the month, Muslims fast during the day, and resume eating in large gatherings at sunset.

“The deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid from civilian population as a means to resolve a dispute over ceasefire conditions is unlawful and constitutes collective punishment,” Sari Bashi, program director at Human Rights Watch, said in a phone interview.

Aid during ceasefire

Israel says 4,200 trucks of aid went into Gaza during each of the six weeks of the ceasefire.

“We brought in so much that there is no lack of any of it inside Gaza,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli national security adviser. “It will take half a year before they feel the lack.”

Demonstrators gather with portraits of Israeli hostages and raise placards during a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday © Photo credit: AFP

Bashi pushed back saying “there’s still shortage of housing materials and caravans as well as food and medicines, putting lives at risk.”

Water and electricity are still being supplied from Israel to Gaza via three water pipes and an electricity line. The latter is designated to solely facilitate Gaza’s desalination plant.

Israel accuses Hamas, an Islamist group that’s on terrorism blacklists in the US and much of the West, of taking over the incoming aid. Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that Hamas is the one abusing people trying to get aid, shooting them and turning aid into a source of profit, which Israel “will not accept.”

“If the choice is between going back to a full-scale military operation to scrapping supplies, the latter may be considered the least bad option, when weighing potential damage to civilians,” says Dr. Ronit Levine-Schnur, a senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law.

Israeli hardliners

“A siege is unacceptable under international law if aimed at starvation, however because Hamas is embedded among civilians a full scale military attack could yield worse consequences to civilians.”

Hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition who’ve been advocating for a return to war, welcomed the latest decision.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to quit the government if Israel doesn’t resume fighting, said that cutting off humanitarian aid was “an important step in the right direction.”

“Hell’s gates need open as quickly and lethally as possible until (Israel’s) total victory,” he posted on X.

Itamar Ben Gvir, a former national security minister who quit the government in protest over the ceasefire, said in a post on X that Israel needs to also “shut off water and electricity and resume war.”

The two are key Netanyahu allies: a walkout by Smotrich may bring down the government, while Ben Gvir could fortify the coalition if he rejoins cabinet.

Reactions among hostage families were mixed.

Zvika Mor, whose son Eitan was kidnapped from the Nova music festival and is presumed alive, said he supports the government’s decision.  “The more helpless and hesitant Israel appears, the greater the risk to our loved ones,” he said in a radio interview.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was also abducted in the 7 October attacks and has so far survived captivity, said: “Netanyahu is sacrificing the release of hostages on the altar of his political survival rather than upholding the agreement which called for the commencement of second-phase negotiations on day 16” of the ceasefire.

(With additional reporting from Fares Akram)

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