Several Arab nations and human rights organizations have condemned Israel’s decision to suspend aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and international law by using starvation as a weapon.
On Sunday, Israel blocked the entry of aid shipments to Gaza, just hours after the first phase of its ceasefire deal with the Palestinian group Hamas expired. This has raised fears of hunger and further hardships during the holy month of Ramadan, which began over the weekend.
Egypt and Qatar, which mediated the talks between Hamas and Israel, along with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, released statements criticizing Israel’s move to block food, medicine, and fuel from entering Gaza.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying it "strongly condemns the Israeli government’s decision to block humanitarian aid and close crossings used for relief efforts." It added that these actions violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides humanitarian protections for civilians in war zones, as well as "all religious principles."
Qatar also condemned Israel’s decision, emphasizing a "firm rejection of the use of food as a weapon of war and the starvation of civilians." The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to "oblige Israel to ensure the safe and sustainable entry of humanitarian aid without obstacles."
A Palestinian woman prepares Iftar meals to break the fast during the holy month of Ramadan at the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The Kingdom condemns and denounces the decision by the Israeli occupation government to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza, using it as a tool of blackmail and collective punishment." It described the move as "a direct assault on the principles of international humanitarian law amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people."
Jordan warned that the Israeli decision threatens "to reignite the situation in the sector" and stressed "the need for Israel to stop using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians and innocent people."
Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud noted that Israel is once again using "food and water as a weapon of war for political gain." He explained, "When it comes to water, for example, 80 percent of Gaza’s reservoirs have been completely destroyed along with the desalination infrastructure. So there is full reliance on the trucks that are carrying water supplies." He added that hospitals, already struggling, will face even greater challenges due to the suspension of medical aid.
The International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated, "Without access to aid, people’s lives are on a knife-edge once again." Angelita Caredda, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, warned that blocking aid to Gaza would push its civilian population "beyond collapse." She urged the Israeli government to "immediately reverse this decision" and called on international actors to "ensure access to Gaza resumes, so that aid reaches those in need without any further delay or disruption."
Hamas Rejects New Ceasefire Proposal
On Monday, Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the next phase of ceasefire talks, calling the decision to cut off aid "a war crime and a blatant attack" on a truce that took a year of negotiations to establish in January.
On Sunday, Israel announced its support for a new U.S. proposal to extend the ceasefire through Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, which ends on April 20. Under the proposal, Hamas would release half of the captives on the first day, with the rest to be freed upon reaching an agreement on a permanent ceasefire, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Hamas rejected the proposal, stating it would only release captives under the original terms of the agreement, which stipulated that Israeli forces would permanently withdraw from Gaza and end the war.
The ceasefire agreement halted Israel’s war on Gaza, which killed more than 48,380 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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