Israel announced on Sunday morning that it was halting the entry of all goods and humanitarian assistance into Gaza immediately, hours after proposing a temporary extension of the now-expired cease-fire with Hamas. The drastic step to block aid appeared to be aimed at pressuring Hamas into accepting the new framework — and to make the Israeli government’s negotiating position clear. Under Israel’s proposal for an extension, half of the remaining hostages held in Gaza would be released to Israel on the first day of the agreement. If, at the end of the temporary extension — stretching until the end of Passover on April 20 — a permanent truce had been reached, the rest of the hostages would then be returned.
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