Netanyahu's Gaza ultimatum: "Additional consequences" loom for Hamas defiance

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel announced on Sunday that his government would block all goods and supplies from entering the Gaza Strip, a sharp escalation in response to Hamas’s refusal to accept a ceasefire proposal brokered by an envoy of President Donald J. Trump. The decision, reached after a late-night security meeting, underscores Israel’s determination to pressure the militant group into releasing dozens of hostages.

Speaking at the opening of a government session, Netanyahu said Israel had embraced the framework put forward by Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, which calls for a temporary truce during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover. The plan, he said, was designed to secure the release of hostages in two stages while providing a window for further negotiations.

“We are fully coordinated with President Trump and his people,” Netanyahu said, signaling the close alignment between Jerusalem and Washington. But he accused Hamas of intransigence, warning that “additional consequences” loomed if the group did not relent.

A Stalled Ceasefire Effort

The Witkoff framework emerged as an interim measure after the envoy concluded that reconciling Israel’s and Hamas’s positions on a broader agreement—referred to as “Phase B”—remained out of reach. Under the proposal, half of the hostages would be freed on the first day of the truce, with the rest released later if talks succeed.

“He defined his proposal as a corridor for negotiations on Phase B,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “Israel is ready for this.”

The prime minister pushed back against critics who have accused Israel of violating prior agreements, insisting that Hamas had repeatedly breached the terms of an earlier deal, known as Phase A. That agreement, he noted, included a clause—backed by both the Biden and Trump administrations—allowing Israel to resume military operations after 42 days if talks stalled. Still, he said, Israel had accepted Mr. Whitcoff’s plan to prioritize the hostages’ return.

Hamas has so far rejected the framework, a stance Mr. Netanyahu described as a miscalculation. “If Hamas thinks that the ceasefire can continue, or that it can enjoy the conditions of Phase A, without us receiving hostages—it is greatly mistaken,” he said.

Supplies Cut Off Amid Humanitarian Concerns

Effective this morning (Sunday), Israel halted all shipments of goods and supplies into Gaza, a move Mr. Netanyahu tied directly to Hamas’s refusal to negotiate. He accused the group of seizing humanitarian aid, attacking civilians seeking assistance, and diverting resources to fund attacks against Israel.

“They turn humanitarian aid into terror funding directed against us,” he said. “We will not agree to this under any circumstances.”

The decision is likely to intensify an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than two years of war have left much of the population dependent on external aid. Netanyahu did not specify what further steps Israel might take but hinted at a broader strategy to pressure Hamas.

A Record of Resolve

Netanyahu highlighted Israel’s success in the initial phase of the hostage negotiations, known as Phase A, during which 30 living hostages were freed and the remains of eight others were returned for burial. “Few believed we would succeed in this,” he said, casting the achievement as evidence of his government’s resolve.

Since the war began, Israel has secured the release or recovery of 196 hostages, a figure Netanyahu cited to rebut early doubts about the country’s ability to negotiate with Hamas. “At the beginning of the war, there were those who doubted our ability to return even one hostage,” he said.

Looking ahead, he reiterated Israel’s demand for the release of all remaining captives, both living and deceased. “I am committed to this,” he said. “With God’s help, we will not stop and will not rest until we achieve this.”

The announcement comes as Israel navigates a delicate balance between military pressure and diplomatic efforts, with the Trump administration playing an increasingly prominent role in mediating the conflict. For now, the standoff with Hamas shows no signs of abating, raising the stakes for both sides—and for the civilians caught in the crossfire.