(March 2, 2025 / JNS) Hamas will no longer receive “free meals,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday, threatening further consequences if the terrorist group refuses to release hostages.

“Hamas is currently controlling all the supplies and goods that are being sent to the Gaza Strip,” the premier reiterated in remarks ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. The Islamist organization “is abusing Gazans trying to receive aid; it is shooting at them, and it is turning humanitarian aid into a terrorist budget that is directed against us.”

If Hamas continues its opposition to a ceasefire and hostage release deal during Ramadan and Passover, as proposed by Washington and accepted by Jerusalem, “there will be further consequences—and I will not elaborate on them here,” said Netanyahu.

“Israel is adopting the plan of President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire during the Ramadan and Passover periods. We are fully coordinated with President Trump and his team,” he declared.

The premier said that according to the latest figures, “Hamas is currently holding 59 captives: up to 24 alive and at least 35 deceased. We will not give up on any of them, and we are determined to bring them all home.”

Jerusalem “is not in violation [of the truce terms], while Hamas has repeatedly violated the agreement on Phase 1,” Netanyahu said, stressing that, according to the terms of the deal, the Israeli army “could return to fighting after day 42 if it determines that the negotiations are ineffective.

“However, despite this, we agreed to Witkoff’s plan because we are committed to bringing our captives back,” he explained.

“While Israel agreed to Witkoff’s proposal, Hamas has stuck to its refusal. It does not agree to the plan,” the prime minister emphasized, noting that “if Hamas changes its position, Israel will immediately enter negotiations.”

The 42-day Phase 1 of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which went into effect on Jan. 19, expired at midnight on Saturday.

Jerusalem announced on Sunday morning that it had suspended all humanitarian aid to Gaza after the Hamas terrorist group rejected U.S. Middle East envoy Witkoff’s proposal.

Netanyahu announced that no goods or supplies would enter Gaza until further notice, reaffirming that Jerusalem will not agree to a ceasefire without the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas insists on moving to Phase 2 of the ceasefire, which calls for talks on a “permanent” end to hostilities in Gaza, a full IDF military withdrawal from the enclave, reconstruction and a prisoner-hostage exchange.

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