Israel stalls Gaza ceasefire implementation while preparing to escalate the war, driven by political survival and supremacist policies.

Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the cease-fire agreement hours after its first phase ended. It called the decision to cut off aid “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack” on the truce, which took hold in January after more than a year of negotiations. Both sides stopped short of saying the cease-fire had ended.

Israel blocked aid trucks into Gaza as a cease-fire standoff has escalated, with Hamas calling on other mediators to intervene.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to cease the entry of all entry the humanitarian aid into Gaza as phase one of the hostage deal ends, his office said in a statement on Sunday. (Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly and Yomna Ehab;

The move was apparently part of a bid to force Hamas into accepting a temporary extension of a cease-fire and releasing more hostages.

Israel said Sunday it has stopped the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza after phase one of its ceasefire deal with Hamas expired, citing the militant group’s refusal of a US-backed extension.