Israel has stopped the entry of aid into Gaza as it seeks to force Hamas to agree to a US proposal for a temporary ceasefire covering the periods of Ramadan and Jewish Passover.
Hamas, which has sought instead to move to a second phase of the existing ceasefire deal, is yet to respond to the proposal.
After stopping the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip on Sunday, Israel warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas did not accept the US proposal.
US president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff proposed the extension after it became apparent that more time was needed for talks on a permanent ceasefire, Reuters reported.
The ceasefire extension would run throughout the Islamic Ramadan fasting period, which ends around 31 March, and the Jewish Passover holiday, which concludes around 20 April.
Israel said it would immediately start negotiations on Mr Witkoff’s plan if Hamas agreed to it.
Under the deal, Israel seeks to have half of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza – both alive and dead – released on the first day.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the ceasefire extension hours after the first phase of the previously agreed one expired.
The initial phase, beginning on 19 January, halted a 15-month Israeli ground invasion in Gaza and enabled the release of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais captured by Hamas during its deadly 7 October attack, in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinians detained and held by Israel.
The ceasefire deal included a mechanism to move to negotiations for a lasting peace, with Hamas seeking a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
While the Israeli delegation sought to extend the first phase by 42 days, Hamas seeks to move to the second phase, Reuters reported, citing Cairo officials privy to the matter.
But Palestinian officials told Reuters that Israel refused to enter the second phase of the deal.
Instead, Israel reportedly requests an extension of the first phase with a conditioned handover of a specified number of living prisoners and bodies for each week of extension.
Hamas rejected an extension of the first phase, and insisted on adhering to the agreement.
