Hamas says Israel’s blocking of aid entry to Gaza amounts to ‘war crime’
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the Israeli decision to block the entry of humanitarian aid and basic needs into the besieged Gaza Strip amounts to “war crime and collective punishment.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, Hamas said the closure constitutes a breach of the January ceasefire deal.
"Such closure represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and amounts to a war crime and collective punishment threatening the lives of innocent civilians."
Hamas said the closure and the blocking of aid entry for the 10th consecutive day were "aggravating the suffering of more than two million Palestinians" and "foreshadow a risk of famine" in Gaza.
"Denying the flow of food, medicine, fuel, and basic relief means has led to a spike in food prices and a severe shortage in medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."
The statement also said blocking the entry of "heavy machinery disrupts the efforts to recover the bodies buried under rubble, as well as the rehabilitation and reconstruction works in Gaza."
Hamas called on the mediators to pressure the regime into "adhering to its commitments" under the ceasefire agreement.
The resistance group censured "using aid as a political blackmail card."
"We confirm that such aggressive policies will neither break the will of our people, nor will they achieve the occupation’s objectives."
Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed over 48,500 Palestinians there so far.
In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.
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