02.03.2025 23:30
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that they have accepted the United States' proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas instead of negotiating the second phase. Implying that they could resume attacks on Gaza, Netanyahu defended the decision to block humanitarian aid by stating, "No free food for Palestinians."
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement before the cabinet meeting, indicated that they wanted to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas, implying that they could resume attacks on Gaza. Netanyahu stated that in a meeting with Israeli officials yesterday, they decided to adopt the framework proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff, which foresees the extension of the first phase during the month of Ramadan and Passover.
ATTACKS IN GAZA MAY RESUME
Netanyahu, claiming that Israel could resume attacks in Gaza after the end of the first phase if it "gains the impression that negotiations have become ineffective," stated, "This provision has been supported by a side letter from the previous U.S. administration and has received full support from the Trump administration." Netanyahu implied that they could resume attacks on Gaza with the statement, "If Hamas maintains its stance and does not release the captives, there will be other consequences, which I will not go into details about."
THERE WILL BE NO "FREE LUNCH" FOR PALESTINIANS IN GAZA
Regarding their decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza as of today, Netanyahu stated, "I want to clarify one point: There will be no free lunch." Netanyahu, who said that Hamas rejected Witkoff's proposal to extend the first phase and called for immediate negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, added, "As of this morning, we have decided to prevent the entry of goods and materials into Gaza."
CEASEFIRE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL
The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Sunday, January 19, at 12:15 PM (GMT+3). Under the agreement, the Netzarim Corridor was opened for the passage of Palestinians from south to north in the Gaza Strip on Monday, January 27, and the Israeli army withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor on February 9. The Rafah Border Gate between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on February 1 for the evacuation of the sick and injured after the Israeli army's 8-month occupation. In the prisoner exchanges of the first phase of the agreement, over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails were released, while 33 Israeli captives, including 25 alive and 8 dead, were handed over in Gaza. Additionally, 5 Thai captives in Gaza were also released.
SECOND PHASE NEGOTIATIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO START ON FEBRUARY 3
The 42-day first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza ended on March 1. The second phase negotiations of the agreement were supposed to start on February 3. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu prevented the start of the second phase negotiations.
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