Israel faced criticism from Egypt and Qatar on Sunday for blocking all food and aid into the Gaza Strip, sparking allegations of violating humanitarian law. The move has been described as a “war crime” by Hamas, which warned that any attempt to delay or cancel the ceasefire agreement would have “humanitarian consequences.”
The Gaza Strip is home to over 2 million people, most of whom rely on international aid due to years of conflict. The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations are urging Israel to allow aid to flow into Gaza immediately.
Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon, violating international law by withholding essential supplies from the population. The move has sparked fears of famine and chaos in the densely populated area.
Hamas had called for an extension of the ceasefire, which is set to end on April 20, but Israel proposed a new plan that would allow for the release of hostages in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The proposal, backed by the United States, calls for extending the ceasefire through Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday. However, critics argue that this move does not address the underlying issue of aid access.
International law makes it clear that aid must be allowed to enter a conflict zone. The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that any unraveling of the forward momentum created over the last six weeks risks plunging people back into despair.
Human rights groups have accused Israel of violating international law by withholding aid, with some calling it a “resumption of the war-crime starvation strategy” that led to an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The war has left thousands dead and many more displaced.
Families of hostages held by Hamas are calling on Israel’s government to reconsider its decision, saying that any delay in negotiations could leave hostages without food or shelter.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-03-02-2025-99402570996dcf33239d0492d99909e4