Israel has made the decision to halt the entry of all food and goods into Gaza, reminiscent of the siege imposed during the early days of its conflict with Hamas. This move has sparked sharp criticism from the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations, who have labeled it a violation of international law.
Various entities have condemned Israel's actions, with Saudi Arabia denouncing it as a tool of extortion, Oxfam describing it as reckless collective punishment, and Egypt accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon. The decision has raised concerns about exacerbating hunger in Gaza, where over 2 million people reside, with fears of a potential famine looming.
Israel's objective is to pressure Hamas into accepting a U.S. proposal to extend the ceasefire's first phase rather than immediately entering negotiations for the more challenging second phase. The second phase entails Hamas releasing remaining hostages in exchange for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire.
Following the end of the ceasefire's first phase, Israel announced its support for extending the ceasefire through the Jewish holiday of Passover in mid-April, citing a proposal from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. Israel has warned of a potential resumption of hostilities if negotiations prove ineffective.
The Trump administration has not issued a statement regarding Israel's decision to cut off aid to Gaza. Aid organizations have criticized Israeli restrictions on aid entry, with Israel attributing shortages to the U.N.'s distribution challenges and alleged aid diversion by Hamas militants.
Despite the surge of aid during the ceasefire's first phase, Hamas claims that only a fraction of the agreed-upon aid trucks were allowed in, leading to shortages of essential supplies. The sudden aid cutoff has caused prices in Gaza to triple, exacerbating the plight of Palestinians already grappling with food insecurity.
International humanitarian law experts have condemned Israel's aid cutoff, labeling it a violation of obligations under international law and potentially constituting a war crime. The move has reignited debates on Israel's compliance with humanitarian aid provisions under the Geneva Conventions and previous allegations of using starvation as a method of warfare.
