Several Arab countries and the United Nations have accused Israel of blocking all humanitarian aid entry into the Gaza Strip.
Egypt and Qatar said Israel’s move violated the ceasefire contract on Sunday, and humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described it as “uneasy.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country acted as Hamas steals supplies and uses them “to fund its terrorist machines.”
He also accused Palestinian groups of rejecting the US proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza after it expired on Saturday. Israel said it has approved the proposal.
A Hamas spokesman said the Israeli lockdown was “cheap and scary” and a “coup” against the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire agreement halted a 15-month battle between Hamas and Israeli forces, allowing the release of 33 Israeli hostages for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
In a statement on Sunday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemns” Israel’s decision, describing it as “a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement” and “international humanitarian law.”
In Egypt, the Foreign Ministry accused Israel of using hunger as a “arm against the Palestinians,” AFP news agency reported.
Both Qatar and Egypt helped mediate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has expressed “condemnation and condemnation” of Israel’s aid blockade, the Foreign Ministry said.
Tom Fletcher, governor of the UN Humanitarian Governor, wrote in X’s post:
Netanyahu said Israel had decided to act to prevent Hamas from stealing supplies and getting the Gaza people to get them.
“We are using these supplies to fund terrorist machines that are directly aiming to Israel and our civilians. This is unacceptable.”
Hamas has previously denied stealing humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Netanyahu also said Hamas refused to accept the temporary extension of the ceasefire proposed by US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The first phase of the ceasefire came into effect on January 19th and expired in the middle of the night on Saturday.
Negotiations in Phase 2 are intended to lead to a permanent ceasefire, the release of all remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but were due to begin a few weeks ago, but barely started.
Twenty-four hostages are believed to be alive, with another 39 estimated to be dead.
Phase 3 aims to revive all remaining bodies of the dead hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Hamas previously stated that he would not agree to an extension of Phase 1 without assuring from the mediator that Phase 2 will ultimately take place.
With the first phase of the contract expired on Saturday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel agreed to Witkov’s proposal for a ceasefire that would last about six weeks during the Holy Month of Ramadan and the Passover of Jews.
At the end of this period, if negotiations reach a dead end, Israel reserves the right to return to war.
Witkov has not made public his proposal. According to Israel, it starts with half the release of all remaining living and dead hostages.
Witkov is said to have proposed a temporary expansion after he was convinced that Israel would need more time to bridge the differences between Israel and Hamas on the conditions to end the war.
Aid agencies confirmed on Sunday morning that aid trucks were not permitted in Gaza.
“Humanitarian assistance must continue to flow to Gaza. It’s extremely essential. And we’re calling all involved to make sure we get a solution,” Antoine Leonard of the World Food Programme (WFP) told the BBC.
Thousands of trucks have come into the Gaza Strip each week since the ceasefire was agreed in mid-January.
The aid agencies managed to store the supplies. In other words, there is no immediate danger to civilians.
Also on Sunday, Medic said four people were killed in the Israeli strike in Gaza. Israeli forces said they attacked people planting explosive devices north of the territory.
Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 more hostages.
Israel responded with an air force and ground campaign in the Gaza Strip, during which at least 48,365 people were killed, according to the territory’s Hamasran Health Ministry.
