Hamas on Tuesday said the Gaza ceasefire cannot progress to its second phase while Israeli “violations” persist, urging mediators including Egypt, Qatar and the United States to pressure Israel to fully honour the deal. Senior Hamas official Hossam Badran said Israel has not complied with key terms such as reopening the Rafah crossing and expanding humanitarian aid. “The statements… clearly reveal the criminal occupation’s lack of commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” he said.
The truce, active since October 10 after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, involved prisoner exchanges and withdrawal of Israeli troops behind a “Yellow Line”. Israel has reopened the Allenby crossing to aid trucks for the first time since September, but insists the next phase including disarming Hamas and further troop pullback cannot begin until the final captive’s body is returned. Gaza has suffered massive destruction, with thousands killed in over two years of conflict.