Concerns are growing from Palestinians in the Gaza Strip that Israel’s decision to cut the entry of food and other supplies will accelerate a humanitarian crisis.
Israel on Sunday announced it would be halting the entry of food and other supplies into Gaza — a move that Palestinians have said would exacerbate already dire humanitarian conditions.
“Closing the crossings will make the situation worse than it is now. Our situation is not good while the crossings are open, so what will it be if they close the crossings?” Yahya Al-Sharif, a displaced Palestinian from Rafah, said.
“Things will get worse. There is basically nothing good in the whole country.”
“This is a decision of genocide. Human rights organizations in the world are standing and looking at us” Mohammed Abu Shalhoub, also displaced from Rafah, said.
The ceasefire’s first phase saw a surge in humanitarian aid after months of growing hunger.
The United Nations and other aid groups have criticised Israel’s decision to halt further supplies, as they sounded the alarm that the aid provided was already not enough given the scale of humanitarian needs.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Israel’s decision “alarming,” noting that international humanitarian law makes clear that aid access must be allowed.
Hamas has accused Israel of trying to derail the next phase of the ceasefire and called Israel’s decision to cut off aid “a war crime and a blatant attack” on a truce that took hold in January.
Mediators Egypt and Qatar have also accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal and international humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon.
The first phase of the ceasefire’s three parts ended Sunday, with talks on the ceasefire’s more complex second phase slated to begin after that.
Israel has said its decision to cut supplies is a response to Hamas’ refusal to accept a temporary extension of the ceasefire until mid-April.
The Israeli government has described the proposal as being suggested by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who has not publicly commented on the suggestion or Israel’s decision to halt supplies.
If, at the end of this period, negotiations reached a dead end, Israel would reserve the right to go back to war.
Under the proposal, Hamas would release half the 59 Israeli hostages it still holds on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached for a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas has insisted that talks to begin the ceasefire’s more complex second phase should begin immediately.
The war, triggered by Hamas’ 7 October attack on southern Israel, has left most of Gaza’s population of over 2 million dependent on international aid.
About 600 aid trucks have entered daily since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Video editor • Rory Elliott Armstrong
