Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked widespread criticism. Several Arab nations and the United Nations strongly condemned the move, fearing it could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire. On Sunday, Egypt and Qatar criticized Israel, arguing that the blockade violated the ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the situation as “alarming.”
Israel’s Justification and Hamas’ Response
In response to the criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the blockade. He claimed that Hamas was stealing aid and using it “to finance its terror machine.” Furthermore, he accused Hamas of rejecting a U.S.-backed proposal to extend the ceasefire, which expired on Saturday.
On the other hand, Hamas dismissed Israel’s claims. The group called the blockade “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire, according to BBC. Notably, the truce had paused 15 months of intense fighting and enabled the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
International Outrage
Meanwhile, global leaders expressed strong opposition to Israel’s actions. Qatar’s foreign ministry stated that the blockade was “a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement” and “international humanitarian law.” Similarly, Egypt accused Israel of using starvation “as a weapon against the Palestinian people,” reported AFP.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia voiced its condemnation. At the same time, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher emphasized on X (formerly Twitter), “International humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid.”
Uncertain Future for Ceasefire Talks
Despite mounting pressure, Israel refused to back down. Netanyahu reiterated, “It uses these supplies to finance its terror machine, which is aimed directly at Israel and our civilians, and this we cannot accept.” However, Hamas continued to reject these allegations.
Currently, negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire remain stalled. This phase was expected to secure a permanent ceasefire, release all remaining hostages, and ensure Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Although it was supposed to begin immediately after phase one, talks have barely made any progress.
As of now, 24 hostages are believed to be alive, while 39 are presumed dead. Looking ahead, phase three of the ceasefire deal aims to recover the bodies of Israeli hostages and initiate the reconstruction of Gaza, a process expected to take years. However, Hamas refuses to extend phase one unless mediators guarantee that phase two will follow.