Several Arab nations and the United Nations have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to block all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it a violation of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
Egypt and Qatar, key mediators in the ceasefire, criticised the move, with Egypt accusing Israel of using “starvation as a weapon against the Palestinian people.” Qatar’s foreign ministry called it a “clear violation of international humanitarian law.” Saudi Arabia also joined in denouncing the blockade.
The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, described the situation as “alarming,” stressing that international law mandates the free flow of life-saving aid into conflict zones.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the decision, claiming that Hamas was “stealing supplies and using them to fund its terror machine.” He also accused the group of rejecting a US-backed proposal to extend the ceasefire, which Israel had reportedly approved. Hamas, in turn, denounced the blockade as “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire agreement.
The initial ceasefire, which took effect in January, halted 15 months of intense fighting. It facilitated a prisoner exchange in which 33 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The agreement was structured in multiple phases, with the second phase aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages and an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. However, negotiations for this phase have barely progressed.
Despite the blockade, aid agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), confirmed that pre-existing supplies could temporarily sustain Gaza’s population. However, humanitarian workers have warned that if the restrictions persist, civilians will soon face dire shortages.
The latest developments come against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities. Israeli strikes on Sunday reportedly killed four people in Gaza, with the Israeli military stating they had targeted individuals planting explosives.
The war, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, has led to devastating casualties. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the initial attack, while Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 48,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s military response.
As world leaders continue to push for a lasting peace, the fate of the ceasefire remains uncertain, with Israel and Hamas deeply divided on the terms of any further agreements.
Melissa Enoch
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