Israel has decided not to move forward with the next phase of a ceasefire deal meant to bring temporary relief to Gaza. After completing the first stage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet halted progress, refusing to release over 600 Palestinian prisoners as previously agreed.
The Israeli government claimed the delay was due to concerns about how the bodies of Israeli captives were handled by Palestinian groups before being returned. However, critics, including opposition leaders and families of Israeli captives, argue that Netanyahu is avoiding the next stage because it would require Israel to agree to a full withdrawal from Gaza and an end to military operations.
Mediators worked to keep the deal alive, securing a commitment from Hamas to return more bodies of Israeli captives without public handover ceremonies. In exchange, Israel pledged to allow humanitarian aid, mobile homes, and heavy equipment into Gaza. Hamas followed through on its promise, but Israel did not. Instead, it shut down border crossings, stopped aid deliveries, cut electricity to a desalination plant, and threatened to destroy aid warehouses.
These actions signal a clear breakdown of the ceasefire agreement. While they violate international law, the US has stepped in to defend Israel’s position. US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff called for an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, demanding the release of more Israeli captives without moving forward with the full three-stage agreement.
Hamas rejected this, insisting that all sides adhere to the original terms. The group stated it would only release more captives as part of the next phase, which included reopening Gaza’s borders, restoring essential services, and rebuilding homes and infrastructure.
In response, Israel and the US accused Hamas of blocking progress, with Israeli leaders threatening further military action. The Israeli army has since called up 400,000 reservists, signaling preparations for renewed fighting. Meanwhile, media outlets in Israel and the West have echoed claims that Hamas is not honoring the deal, shifting blame away from Israel’s decision to stall the process.
In a bid to ease tensions and restart negotiations, Hamas has agreed to direct talks with US officials. However, reports suggest that Israel is attempting to disrupt these discussions, raising concerns that a full return to conflict in Gaza is imminent.