(2 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kerem Shalom Crossing, Southern Israel – 2 March 2025
1. Wide of gate entrance to Kerem Shalom crossing
2. Sign reading (Hebrew, English, Arabic) “Welcome to Kerem Shalom crossing point”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kissufim Junction, Southern Israel -2 March 2025
3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Yossi Russo, mourner:
“I definitely think that all crossings to the (Gaza) Strip should be closed , not to transfer in even a match until all hostages are returned. And when all the hosatages are back, and to settle accounts with those who are there (in Gaza).
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kerem Shalom Crossing, Southern Israel – 2 March 2025
4. Barbed wire and watch tower with Egyptian flag
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kissufim Junction, Southern Israel -2 March 2025
5. Various of people standing on side of road with Israeli flags paying their respects to Shlomo Mantzur, whose body was one of the four returned by Hamas early Thursday, passes by
6. Troops standing by side of road as convoy passes by
STORYLINE:
Israel stopped the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip on Sunday and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas doesn’t accept a new proposal to extend a fragile ceasefire.
There were no trucks lined up at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is controlled by Israel.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the existing ceasefire agreement and said its decision to cut off aid was “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 ceasefire had ended.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which included a surge in humanitarian assistance, expired on Saturday.
The two sides have yet to negotiate the second phase, in which Hamas was to release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an Israeli pullout and a lasting ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that under the existing agreements Israel could resume fighting after the first phase if it believed negotiations were ineffective.
He said the ceasefire would only continue if Hamas kept releasing hostages, telling his Cabinet that “there will be no free lunches.” He said Israel was “full coordinated” with President Donald Trump’s administration.
There was no immediate comment from the United States on the proposal announced by Israel or its decision to cut off aid.
Hundreds of aid trucks have entered Gaza daily since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19.
But residents said prices doubled on Sunday as word of the closure spread and people raced to stock up.
Elsewhere, in southern Israel, mourners gathered with flags to pay their latest respects to former hostage Shlomo Mantzur as the funeral procession convoy made its way to kibbutz Kissufim, where Mantzur is to be buried.
“I definitely think that all crossings to the (Gaza) Strip should be closed,” said Yossi Russo in response to Israel’s cutoff of aid to Gaza while standing to pay his respects.
"Not to transfer in even a match until all hostages are returned. And when all the hostages are back, and to settle accounts with those who are there,” added Russo.
Mantzur, 85, was the oldest person taken hostage.
Earlier this month, the Israeli military confirmed that Mantzur was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body was taken to Gaza.
He was taken from Kibbutz Kissufim, while his wife of 60 years, Mazal, escaped.
AP video by Moshe Edri
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