A senior Hamas official has accused Israel of undermining the Gaza ceasefire agreement, claiming that the only way to secure the release of Israeli prisoners is to move forward with the second phase of the truce. Osama Hamdan, a prominent Hamas figure, stated on Monday, 3 March, that Israel’s attempts to prolong the first phase or introduce an intermediate phase are deliberate efforts to derail the agreement.  

“The release of prisoners held by the occupation can only be achieved by committing to the ceasefire and immediately negotiating the second phase,” Hamdan declared. He called on Israel to honour its obligations under the agreement and criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for obstructing progress.  

In a televised address, Hamdan accused Israel of trying to “reset the clock” and sabotage the truce by proposing alternatives to the agreed framework. He argued that these moves are part of a broader strategy to avoid fulfilling the terms of the deal. Hamdan also held Netanyahu’s administration fully responsible for the deadlock, describing Israel’s actions as “blatant attempts to circumvent the agreement.”  

Despite the ceasefire, Hamdan claimed that Israel continues to target Palestinians, citing 210 aerial violations, the killing of 116 Palestinians, and the prevention of displaced families from returning to their homes. He also highlighted Israel’s obstruction of humanitarian aid, trade, and prisoner releases during the first phase of the truce.  

Since the end of the initial phase, Israel has blocked the entry of essential supplies into Gaza, leaving dozens of aid trucks stranded at the Rafah border with Egypt. Hamdan detailed how Israel has restricted the delivery of tents, mobile homes, and construction materials, including those needed to rebuild hospitals. “The occupation has violated the agreement by allowing only 15 mobile homes out of 65,000 and blocking the daily entry of 50 tanker trucks,” he said.  

Despite these challenges, Hamdan reiterated Hamas’s commitment to implementing the second phase of the ceasefire. He also warned that the unwavering support of the United States for Israel poses a significant threat to regional and global stability. “The international community’s silence and America’s unconditional backing of the occupying entity endanger global security and risk reigniting a genocidal war against our people,” he cautioned.  

Hamdan urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow the flow of vital aid into Gaza and to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire. The first phase of the truce, which lasted 42 days, ended at midnight on Saturday without Israel agreeing to proceed to the second phase or end the war. The ceasefire, structured in three six-week phases, aims to facilitate humanitarian efforts, secure prisoner releases, and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza.