Gaza City, March 2 (RHC)-- Israel has halted all humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing a refusal by the resistance group Hamas to extend phase one of an internationally brokered ceasefire deal that expired on Saturday.

The Israeli prime minister’s office made the announcement in a post on X on Sunday.

“With the conclusion of the 1st stage of the hostages deal and in light of Hamas’s refusal to accept the Witkoff framework for the continuation of the talks, to which Israel agreed, PM Netanyahu decided: as of this morning, entry of all goods & supplies to the Gaza Strip be halted,” the statement read.

According to the public broadcaster Kan, Israel believes that enough aid has entered the enclave in recent weeks to sustain Hamas for months.  According to the Witkoff framework, a proposal by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, the truce should be prolonged during the Ramadan and Passover holiday period through April.

Hamas rejected the plan on Saturday, urging Israel to move forward with the second phase instead. Brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, the ceasefire deal is supposed to encompass three phases, each lasting 42 days.

The first phase included a truce and a prisoner exchange.  The second phase is intended to create a long-term cessation of hostilities, the release of all remaining captives, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.  The third phase should focus on Gaza’s reconstruction under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.