In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli government has announced a blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. This decision comes as the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire plan officially concluded on Saturday.

Israeli officials have emphasized that the blockade is part of a broader strategy to compel Hamas to agree to an extension of the ceasefire agreement. The plan, initially brokered by the United States, aimed to bring temporary relief to the region amid the ongoing hostilities that have claimed numerous lives and led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

As part of the ceasefire discussions, the US had encouraged both parties to engage in negotiations to extend the pause in hostilities. Israeli authorities assert that any extension hinges on Hamas’s willingness to adhere to the conditions set forth in the ceasefire agreement, including the cessation of hostilities and the return of hostages.