Israel has blocked aid supplies from entering Gaza after the first phase of the ceasefire ended.

Al Jazeera reported this information on Sunday (March 2), citing Israeli media.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff made a proposal to continue negotiations after the first phase of the ceasefire agreement expired. Israel agreed to the proposal. However, Hamas did not agree to the proposal.

The statement also said that in this situation, all types of humanitarian aid will be blocked from entering the Gaza Strip from Sunday morning.

Netanyahu's office said that Israel will not approve the ceasefire unless the hostages are released. If Hamas persists in its decision, the consequences will be even more dire.

The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza ends at midnight on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office then announced that it had approved a temporary extension of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu's office said that US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff proposed the temporary extension. Under the proposal, half of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza would be released on the first day. These hostages would include both living and dead.

Netanyahu's office said that if a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached, the remaining hostages would be released.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian independence group Hamas has called the Israeli ban on the entry of aid into Gaza "cheap blackmail."

In a statement, Hamas said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza was "cheap blackmail." Hamas also claimed that Netanyahu had taken a stand against the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas also said that Israel's move was a "war crime and a clear "attack" against the agreement. Hamas called on the mediating countries to take action to stop such immoral decisions by Israel in Gaza.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has assured that the UK will stand by Ukraine and provide full support. He assured this during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is visiting London.

This information was given in a report published by the BBC on Saturday (March 1).

According to the BBC report, Starmer said in the meeting that he is also trying to find a path to lasting peace based on Ukraine's sovereignty and security. Meanwhile, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the UK's support for Ukraine since the start of the war.

The British Prime Minister told Zelensky that he has full support across the UK. We are with you and Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Starmer also said that countless people in the UK stood on both sides of the road to welcome you. This shows how much the people of the UK support you.

On the other hand, Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the UK and said, "I am very happy that the British King will meet me and that you (Starmer) have organized such a great summit. Ukraine is proud to have such a partner." Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president's rhetoric with the US president has spread concern throughout the Western world. European Union countries have pledged to support Ukraine. Canada and Australia have also said they will stand by Ukraine. However, it remains to be seen how much Zelensky can benefit from Ukraine's contrasting position with the US.

Russia has reacted to the tense situation that has developed between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House over the Russia-Ukraine war and the mineral resources deal.

On Saturday (March 01), Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reacted through a Telegram post.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote in a Telegram post, “I think the biggest lie of Zelensky’s lies was that he claimed in the White House that the Kiev government was alone in 2022. It did not receive any support.”

Maria Zakharova also wrote, “How Trump and Vance refrained from beating is a miracle of restraint.”

Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reacted strongly to the incident in an X post, calling Zelensky an “arrogant pig” and saying, “Finally, the arrogant pig has received a well-deserved slap in the Oval Office.”

It is worth noting that this meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place before the finalization and signing of an agreement with the United States on Ukraine’s mineral resources. The meeting, held in the Oval Office of the White House, began with the familiar friendly gestures. The meeting began with the two presidents shaking hands as usual. But over time, heated words were exchanged between the two.

At one point in the discussion, an angry Trump told Zelensky, "Make a deal, or we'll get out." In response, Zelensky said, "We're in our own country. We've been standing firm the whole time (of the war). We even thanked you for your help."

A heated exchange of words occurred at one point during a bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky in the Oval Office of the White House. As a result, Trump complained that Zelensky had behaved disrespectfully. In light of this, their previously scheduled joint press conference was canceled.

The bilateral meeting was held on Friday (February 28). The US-based media outlet Voice of America published this report.

The report said that the last 10 minutes of the 45-minute meeting saw a heated exchange of words between Trump, Vance and Zelensky. Zelensky expressed doubts about Russia's commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow's years of breaking promises on the world stage.

Vance told Zelensky, “Mr. President, with all due respect, I think it is disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and make this allegation in front of the American media.” A heated exchange ensued.

The report also said that Zelensky tried to object, but in the end, Trump insisted, “You are gambling with the lives of millions of people.” Trump added, “You are gambling on World War III and what you are doing is disrespectful to the country, to this country, which has supported you so much, which many people say is much more than they have.”

After the meeting, President Trump wrote in a post on the social media platform Truth Social, “We had a very meaningful meeting today at the White House. Under such pressure, there is not much to understand without discussion. Emotions come out in surprising ways, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he thinks our involvement gives him a big advantage in the negotiations. I don't want convenience, I want peace. He has disrespected the traditional Oval Office of the United States. He can come back when he is ready for peace."

Earlier on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would sign a deal that would give the United States de facto control of Kiev's lucrative rare earth minerals, which would pay for the weapons Washington, sent to Ukraine during its three-year war with Russia.

Trump said at his first cabinet meeting as president that Zelensky would be coming to the White House on Friday to sign the deal and discuss the war situation. However, the deal was not signed after the heated exchange, Voice of America reported.