TEL AVIV, March 4. /TASS/. Humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip has been "the main source of income" and "a means of continuing the war" for the radical Hamas movement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said at a press conference.

"This aid has become a major source of income and budgetary revenue for Hamas in Gaza, allowing them to continue the war against Israel," he said. "This cannot and will not continue," Sa'ar added.

The foreign minister stated that Israel is "ready to move toward the second phase of the ceasefire, but this requires an agreement on the release of hostages." Sa'ar declined to specify a time frame for resuming hostilities in the Gaza Strip but emphasized that "if Israel wants to continue the war, it will do so." Earlier on Tuesday, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel could resume hostilities in the Gaza Strip within 10 days if Hamas does not agree to advance to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of all hostages.

On March 2, Israel blocked humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip and closed all crossings after Hamas refused to accept US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's plan to continue ceasefire negotiations in the enclave. In mid-January, Israel and Hamas, with mediation from Egypt, Qatar, and the US, agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, which took effect on January 19. The first phase of the agreement ended on March 1. A total of 33 hostages were returned to Israel over 42 days as part of the deal.