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Middle East conflict

Top Israeli diplomat informs British counterpart of Hamas’s refusal to accept US plan

According to Gideon Sa'ar, "during the 42-day phase one, 25,000 aid trucks entered Gaza"

TEL AVIV, March 5. /TASS/. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has informed his British counterpart David Lammy that Israel accepted US Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff’s plan to extend the Gaza ceasefire deal through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Pesach but the Hamas movement rejected it.

"I spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and stressed that Israel accepted US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's proposal to extend the temporary ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, provided that Hamas release the hostages. Hamas rejected the offer," Sa’ar stated.

According to him, "during the 42-day phase one, 25,000 aid trucks entered Gaza." "Half of Hamas' budget in Gaza comes from these trucks! Hamas is restoring its military capabilities and recruiting new, young terrorists. This cannot continue!" Sa’ar added.

On March 2, Israel suspended humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and closed all checkpoints, citing Hamas’s refusal to accept Witkoff’s plan to continue Gaza ceasefire talks.

In mid-January, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release the hostages held in Gaza and declare a ceasefire in the enclave, which was brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the US. The three-phase deal took effect on January 19. During the initial 42-day phase, which ended on March 1, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages.

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