section_path: Background
section_name: Background
paragraph_text: Background
  
  In mid-January 2025, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect, pausing the Gaza war. The terms of the ceasefire deal included three phases: the first phase involved a limited exchange of over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners for 25 living and 8 dead Israeli hostages, as well as increased aid into the Gaza Strip. The second phase would complete the release of the hostages and mark the end of the war. The third phase would involve the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The details of the second phase were to be negotiated, but the Biden administration had made it clear that the first phase of the ceasefire would continue until the second phase could be agreed upon. Despite the ceasefire, the Israel Defense Forces have carried out strikes on the Gaza Strip that have killed over 150 people, including many children. The UN condemned the strikes, and Amnesty International said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
  
  Instead of continuing to the second phase of the ceasefire per the original agreement, Israel proposed a new plan (called the "Witkoff plan" after Steve Witkoff), in which Hamas would release the Israeli captives in exchange for a 50-day extension of the ceasefire. Hamas rejected this new proposal, which differed from the terms agreed in January. CBS News writes that some of Trump's and Netanyahu's proposals also contradicted the terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Hamas insisted on the full implementation of the ceasefire deal agreed upon in January.
  
  The Israeli government and the United States insisted on renegotiating the original ceasefire deal. Israel cast Hamas's preference for sticking to original deal as a "refusal" to extend the ceasefire. Israel's new proposal was to extend the original ceasefire in exchange for more prisoner-hostage exchanges; however, this extension was not part of the January ceasefire agreement. US National Security Council spokesman asserted that Hamas "could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war."
  
  According to Palestinian officials, the Israel Defense Forces violated the ceasefire hundreds of times, carrying out strikes on the Gaza Strip that had killed over 100 people. Among those killed, they said, were "civilians who were collecting firewood or checking on their homes". On the other hand, Netanyahu and Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas violated the ceasefire several times by using hostages for rituals and propaganda. In addition, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamas has violated the agreement by seizing aid supplies for itself. Hamas has denied this allegation.
  
  On 2 March, shortly after the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, Israel shut down the entry of all humanitarian aid (including food and fuel) into the Gaza Strip. A few days later, Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza Strip's main desalination plant, which provided drinking water for 500,000 Palestinians. Amnesty International said that shutting off all food and water indicated Israel had a policy of imposing conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinian people – which is tantamount to genocide. Médecins Sans Frontières said depriving Palestinians of drinking water was a war crime.
  
  On 17 and 18 March, Israeli officials stated that Palestinian militants, including Hamas, were building up their military capabilities and preparing for offensives against Israeli communities and Israeli soldiers in Gaza. Israel did not provide any evidence for these claims. Hamas denied these allegations.