Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently denied accusations from the International Criminal Court (ICC) that Israel intentionally starved Gazans during the recent conflict. In a speech to the US Congress, Netanyahu dismissed the claims as 'utter, complete nonsense' and 'a complete fabrication'.
The ICC prosecutor, Karim Khan, recently announced that arrest warrants had been requested for three Hamas leaders and two Israeli politicians, including Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The allegations against Netanyahu and Gallant include causing extermination, starvation as a method of war, and deliberately targeting civilians in conflict.
Netanyahu refuted these accusations, attributing any food shortages in Gaza to Hamas, claiming that the group is responsible for stealing aid meant for Palestinian civilians. He also defended Israel's military actions, stating that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took extensive measures to warn civilians and minimize harm during the conflict.
Despite Israeli authorities asserting that there are no restrictions on aid entering Gaza, the United Nations has criticized the imposition of 'unlawful restrictions' on relief operations. These restrictions reportedly include blocked land routes, communication blackouts, and air strikes, hindering the distribution of essential supplies.
Local aid workers on the ground have reported being overwhelmed by the demand for assistance, with insufficient relief supplies leading to the unfortunate situation where they are forced to turn away those in need at distribution points.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction of infrastructure, including health facilities, and has exacerbated shortages of food, water, and fuel in the region.
