JERUSALEM, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel has blocked humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip since early Sunday, Israeli officials confirmed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the measure was taken to pressure Hamas into accepting a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which he said was put forth by U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

"In light of Hamas' refusal to accept the Witkoff proposal for continuing the talks, we have decided to prevent any entry of goods and supplies into Gaza," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

He warned that Hamas would face "additional consequences" if it did not agree to the proposal.

Netanyahu said Israeli intelligence had indicated that Hamas was holding 59 hostages, including "up to 24 alive and at least 35 deceased."

Netanyahu's spokesman Omer Dostri said on social media platform X that "Convoys of goods trucks seen on their way to Gaza arrive at the crossing only to find it closed, with no entry allowed." He added that Israel will not allow the ceasefire to continue without the release of their hostages.

Hamas condemned the move, calling it in a statement a "blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase." The group said blocking aid to Gaza's two million residents was "cheap blackmail and a war crime," and urged mediators and the international community to press Israel to reverse the decision.

The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, which included increased humanitarian aid, expired on Saturday. Under the agreement, both sides were expected to negotiate a second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal and a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas has said it was ready to open negotiations on the second phase, but Israel presented a new framework that would extend the first phase until after the Muslim and Jewish holidays of Ramadan and Passover, which end on April 20, describing it as an outline of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Under the proposal, Hamas would free half the hostages on the first day and the remaining captives would be released at the end of the period if a permanent ceasefire is reached.

Netanyahu said Witkoff put forward the new plan "after realizing that, at this stage, there is no way to bridge the gap between Israel's and Hamas' positions regarding the second phase and that additional time is needed for negotiations to reach a possible agreement." Enditem

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