On Monday, the United Nations and multiple Arab states expressed strong disapproval over Israel’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. This move has been criticized as a breach of human rights and international law. Tom Fletcher, the UN Relief Chief, described the situation as “alarming” due to the reversal of recent progress and the contravention of international humanitarian norms. His concerns echo the UN’s previous warnings regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, as seen in their earlier statements.
Egypt and Qatar, both instrumental in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza, have also denounced Israel’s blockade. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war is unacceptable. Egypt mirrored this sentiment by categorizing the blockade as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire and established international protocols.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has called for international accountability, urging that measures be implemented to guarantee continuous aid delivery into Gaza, as reported by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Jordan also criticized Israel’s actions, warning of further conflict escalation, which could worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region, according to a statement from Sufayan Qudah, spokesperson for Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These condemnations further underscore the violation of principles embedded in the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Specifically, Article 23 of this convention mandates the unobstructed passage of essential medical supplies, food, and clothing into war zones.
Israel’s blockade came into effect a day following the end phase of a ceasefire agreement reached with Gaza in January 2025. The ceasefire had temporarily halted 15 months of hostilities, facilitating the release of 33 Israeli hostages alongside 19,000 Palestinian detainees. Discussions for an extended ceasefire arrangement are still in the preliminary stages. For more details, visit the JURIST – News article.