Hamas Demands Greater International Pressure On Israel Before Advancing Ceasefire

Hamas on Tuesday urged stronger international pressure on Israel before it agrees to move into the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, demanding that Israel open a key crossing, stop deadly strikes and allow a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the war-damaged territory.

Hamas Conditions Next Phase On Full First-Phase Implementation

Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’s political wing, said the group insists on the “full implementation of all the terms of the first phase” before proceeding. He specifically called for an end to what he described as continued demolitions of Palestinian homes in areas still largely under Israeli control.

Stalled Progress And Competing Claims

Israel’s government says it is prepared to enter a more complicated second phase under the U.S.-proposed 20-point ceasefire plan, but it has tied that move to Hamas returning the remains of the last Israeli hostage as outlined in the deal. Hamas counters that widespread destruction from Israeli strikes has complicated efforts to locate those remains.

“The second phase cannot begin unless the agreed measures are implemented,” Badran said, signaling a hardening stance.

Both sides accuse the other of violating the ceasefire. Israel says recent strikes and troop actions in Gaza were retaliatory responses to militant attacks and to Palestinians approaching the loosely defined “Yellow Line” separating Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza. Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes and shootings have killed at least 376 people in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10; casualties have included women and children. Israeli authorities say many of those killed were suspected militants.

Humanitarian Shortfalls

Humanitarian agencies warn that aid deliveries remain far below targets. Under the ceasefire terms, daily aid convoys were to ramp up to at least 600 trucks a day. The U.N. has documented an average of roughly 120 U.N.-recorded trucks per day in recent weeks (not counting commercial shipments, whose totals are less clear). By contrast, COGAT, the Israeli body that coordinates aid entry, reports 600–800 trucks entering daily.

U.N. agencies, including OCHA, say many commercial goods remain unaffordable for Palestinians, dietary diversity is poor, essential protein sources are largely unavailable and medical supplies have not increased meaningfully. Some hospitals continue to face critical shortages of medicines and supplies. Israel announced it would begin allowing aid bound for Gaza to cross via a Jordan-Israel border crossing.

Border Crossings, Governance And Next Steps

The ceasefire agreement also calls for the Rafah crossing with Egypt to operate in both directions. Israel has indicated it is willing to open Rafah for Palestinians to leave Gaza but has not yet agreed to permit inbound traffic. Mediators and both parties are expected to enter negotiations soon on the terms of subsequent phases, which envision disarming Hamas and establishing an international body to help govern Gaza — officials say that body could be announced by year’s end.

Israel’s two-year campaign in Gaza has caused extensive devastation. The Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between militants and civilians in its overall toll, reports more than 70,300 Palestinians killed since the campaign began following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

The situation remains fragile. Regional mediators such as Qatar and Turkey may press Hamas not to derail the truce, while both sides continue to trade accusations of ceasefire violations as international actors push for the next phase of implementation and increased humanitarian access.