Gaza: Two Brothers Among Three Killed in Israeli Strike While Collecting Firewood in New Ceasefire Violation

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Three Palestinians, including two brothers, were killed on Monday in an Israeli attack while gathering firewood for cooking in the central Gaza Strip, as Israel continues its blockade on all humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Local sources confirmed that Two brothers, Ibrahim and Tareq Abu Hajir, as well as a third, Aref Abu Hajir, were killed while they were collecting firewood for cooking east of Al-Bureij camp.

More than 130 Palestinians have been killed and over 500 others injured in direct Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, according to medical sources.

The death toll from Israel’s genocide in Gaza has reached 48,577, with 112,041 wounded, reported the Health Ministry on Monday, adding many bodies remain trapped under debris and in the streets, where rescue teams cannot reach them due to ongoing Israeli restrictions.

Israeli Violations

Since the first phase ended on March 1, Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, preventing food, water, fuel, and medicine from entering the enclave.

On March 3, Israel cut off the only electricity line that fed Gaza from Israel and had been restored months earlier to support the productivity of a central water desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. This line was providing drinking water daily to both residents and displaced people.

Many families have turned to collecting firewood and burning it for cooking following the fuel cutoff.

Israel’s decision came after Hamas refused to accept the extension of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, noting it will only release captives in phases, per the ceasefire agreement, which Israel is now refusing to continue.

Israel said that it had accepted a last-minute proposal put on the table by the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire over Ramadan and Passover.

According to Israel, the proposal also outlined the release of all captives still in Gaza in two stages, with the second stage contingent on negotiating a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas said it would only accept moving to the second stage, which was supposed to guarantee the definitive end of the assault, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of remaining captives.

Hamas also slammed Israel’s decision to block the entry of aid and adopt the US proposal. In a statement, the movement said this “is a blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase.”

“Netanyahu’s decision to block the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza is a cheap blackmail and a war crime in an appalling violation of the ceasefire deal. Mediators and the international community must act to place pressure on the occupation and put an end to its punitive and immoral measures against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas stated that Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire, which has resulted in the killing of many civilians in Gaza and the disruption of the humanitarian protocol.

This includes blocking the entry of sheltering and relief aid, further aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has committed more than 1300 violations of the ceasefire agreement.

“Weaponizing Starvation”

Israel’s blockade of aid has been met with widespread condemnation and accusations of using starvation as a weapon of war.

Several Arab countries, including ceasefire mediators, and international humanitarian organizations slammed the move, expressing rejection of using food as a weapon of war and starving civilians.

A group of more than 30 UN human rights experts said Thursday that Israel has resumed “weaponizing starvation” in Gaza.

The move “flagrantly breaches international law and any prospects of peace”, the independent UN experts said in a statement on Thursday.

“We are alarmed by Israel’s decision to suspend once again all goods and supplies, including life-saving humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip,” they added.

“As the occupying power, Israel is always obliged to ensure sufficient food, medical supplies and other relief services. By deliberately cutting vital supplies, including those relating to sexual and reproductive health, and assistive devices for persons with disabilities, Israel is once again weaponizing aid.”

The statement added that such blockades violate international humanitarian and human rights laws and are considered war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.

What’s Happening with Ceasefire Talks Now?

Mediators are now working to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after weeks of U.S. involvement, including direct talks with the Palestinian group.

Israel says it wants the immediate release of 11 living captives and half of the 35 captive bodies held in Gaza. In exchange, mediators say Israel would open crossings to allow aid into Gaza again and extend the ceasefire for another 50 days.

The basis of this proposal was drawn up by Witkoff, who was in Qatar last week for ceasefire talks. But the U.S. has not published a firm timeline for reaching an end of the war — a key demand of Hamas.
The U.S. also says Hamas must immediately release U.S.-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.

Hamas said in a statement it would release Alexander and the bodies of four dual nationals as an initial gesture. A Hamas official told NPR those bodies belong to dual U.S.-Israeli nationals. Hamas will do so on condition Israel commits to immediate talks toward a permanent ceasefire and an immediate troop withdrawal from Gaza’s border with Egypt — two conditions Israel is refusing.

Hamas has also said it is willing to free all its captives at the same time, instead of in batches, if Israel agrees to a lasting truce and withdraws from Gaza, but Israel’s far-right government has rejected this.

A team of Israeli negotiators met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Sunday to discuss the captive issue, Israel said.

Reports say the Israelis came to Cairo to discuss the proposal of releasing half the living captives, and are unwilling at this stage to discuss any other proposals that include timelines for ending the war or withdrawing from Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Witkoff sharply criticised Hamas for rejecting the new proposal, calling their response “totally unacceptable.” Speaking to CNN, Witkoff also threatened Hamas telling them to “watch what we are doing to the Houthis” and said the opportunity for a deal was closing fast.

Witkoff’s threats were considered unprofessional and inappropriate, especially since the US is supposed to be a mediator ensuring that all parties uphold the ceasefire agreement.

But what exactly did Hamas reject? And why was its response deemed unacceptable?

The Proposal Hamas Rejected

Witkoff, along with U.S. officials, presented a proposal aimed at extending the first phase of a ceasefire without a full withdrawal from Gaza or a permanent halt to Israeli operations.

The plan included:

* The release of five living Israeli prisoners, including American-Israeli soldier Eidan Alexander.
* The return of the bodies of four other Israeli prisoners.
* The release of a significant number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

According to Witkoff, Israel was informed about the proposal before and after its presentation. After two to three days, Hamas responded with conditions that the U.S. and Israel found unacceptable.

Hamas’ Response and Conditions

Hamas agreed to release Alexander and the four bodies but only as part of a broader deal, reported Al Jazeera.

Their conditions included:

* Continuing all previous ceasefire commitments.
* Immediately resuming talks for the second phase of the agreement.
* A commitment to negotiating a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
* Opening border crossings and allowing humanitarian aid, trade, and reconstruction supplies into Gaza.
* A guarantee from mediators, including the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, that negotiations would lead to a lasting truce.

Hamas insisted that their response was in line with the January 17 ceasefire deal. They rejected any attempt to create a new agreement that ignored the original terms.

Why the U.S. and Israel Rejected Hamas’ Terms

Israel wanted a different exchange ratio. Their counteroffer included:

* The release of 11 live Israeli prisoners, including Alexander.
* The return of 16 bodies.
* The release of 120 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences and 1,110 others.
* The return of 160 Palestinian bodies from Gaza.

Israel also demanded medical reports and proof of life for Israeli prisoners before negotiati