Israel sets conditions for next phase of Gaza ceasefire deal

JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel demands a demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and an end to Hamas' rule in order to move on to the next phase of the ceasefire deal that took effect in January, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday.

"We don't have an agreement on phase two," Sa'ar said during a press briefing. "We demand total demilitarization of Gaza, (and) Hamas and Islamic Jihad out and give us our hostages."

He added that if Hamas agreed to these demands, "we can implement (the deal) tomorrow."

Referring to Israel's move to block humanitarian aid to Gaza since early Sunday, Sa'ar claimed Hamas was exploiting the aid for its own purposes. He said humanitarian supplies have become the "number one budget income" for Hamas and a means of rebuilding the group's military capabilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the decision to block the aid aims to pressure Hamas into accepting a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which he said was put forth by U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.■