The Palestinian movement Hamas has appealed to Egypt and other Arab countries, urging them to take practical steps to prevent Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s decision to suspend the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. The statement was made by Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem.
"We call on Egypt and all Arab countries to take practical measures to prevent Israel’s policy of starving Gaza’s residents," Qassem emphasized. The text of his statement was published in Hamas’ Telegram channel. According to the Hamas representative, the suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza "sets the stage for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza" and thus "poses a threat to the national security of all Arab countries."
On the night of Sunday, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel was accepting a plan proposed by US Special Envoy Stephen Whitcoff for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the periods of Ramadan (the Muslim holy month of fasting, which lasts until March 29) and Passover (the Jewish holiday, to be celebrated from April 12 to 19). The US proposal stipulates that on the first day of implementation, half of the living hostages will be released, along with the return of the bodies of deceased hostages. At the end of the process, if a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached, the remaining hostages will be released, and the bodies of any remaining deceased hostages will be returned.
Representatives of the Israeli prime minister noted that if Hamas accepts the US envoy's proposal, Israel would "immediately begin negotiations on all details of Whitcoff’s plan." However, on Sunday morning, Netanyahu’s office announced that the Palestinian movement rejected Whitcoff’s plan. Consequently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would halt the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and close all border crossings. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called Israel’s decision "collective punishment" of Gaza’s residents and urged the immediate implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
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Based on TASS materials