KEY POINTS
- The EU and Arab nations condemned Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza.
- Arab countries accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.
- Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan called for immediate aid access.
- Germany urged Israel to restore aid flow and warned against using it as a negotiation tool.
- Human rights groups petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to prevent aid obstruction.
- UN chief urged Israel to reverse the blockade and prevent further hostilities.
- Emergency Arab nations summit convened in Egypt on Tuesday to discuss Gaza.
BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) and Arab nations have strongly condemned Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza following the end of the first phase of a 42-day ceasefire with Hamas.
The EU warned that the move could have severe humanitarian consequences, while Arab states accused Israel of violating international law by using starvation as a weapon of war.
“The EU calls for a rapid resumption of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire and expresses its strong support for the mediators,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said in a statement on Sunday.
Israel halted aid shipments to Gaza just hours after the first phase of the fragile truce expired, raising fears of widespread hunger as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins.
Several Arab nations, including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, strongly condemned the move and urged Israel to allow the immediate flow of food, medicine, and fuel into the besieged enclave.
Arab countries denounce aid blockade
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement “strongly condemning” Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid and close border crossings used for relief efforts, calling it a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides protections for civilians in conflict zones.
Qatar, a key mediator in ceasefire talks, also condemned the aid suspension and reaffirmed its “firm rejection of the use of food as a weapon of war and the starvation of civilians.”
The country’s foreign ministry called on the international community to pressure Israel into ensuring the “safe and sustainable entry of humanitarian aid without obstacles.”
Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced Israel’s move, calling it an act of “blackmail and collective punishment.”
Germany calls for immediate aid access
Germany, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel, joined the calls for an immediate resumption of aid to Gaza.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer stressed that humanitarian assistance “must be guaranteed at all times” and warned that restricting aid access should not be used as leverage in negotiations.
“Granting or denying humanitarian access is not a legitimate means of pressure in negotiations,” Fischer told reporters in Berlin on Monday.
He also urged Hamas to release all remaining hostages, stating that the group must “put an end to the suffering and humiliation” of those still in captivity.
Human rights groups challenge Israel
Several human rights organisations, including the Israeli non-profit Gisha, have petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to issue an order preventing the government from obstructing humanitarian aid.
The petition argues that blocking aid constitutes a war crime and violates Israel’s legal obligations under international law.
“Israel is once again using its control over all of Gaza’s crossings to deny access for humanitarian aid, obstructing critical items, including food, medicine, fuel, and shelter equipment, as a weapon of war against the civilian population,” Gisha said in a statement.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also condemned the blockade, warning that it puts Palestinian lives “on a knife-edge once again.”
Meanwhile, the humanitarian group Action for Humanity accused Israel of deliberately starving a population “already brought to the brink of famine,” calling it “calculated, systematic, and in direct violation of international law.”
Ceasefire breakdown
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Israel to reverse its decision “immediately” and resume the flow of humanitarian aid.
“The Secretary-General urges all parties to make every effort to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza,” the UN said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Hamas ally Islamic Jihad also blamed Israel for “sabotaging” the ceasefire, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was responsible for violating the terms of the agreement.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the ceasefire based on the agreed three-phase plan and will continue to abide by it,” the group said in a statement. “The occupation is the one responsible for the consequences of sabotaging this.”
Arab summit in Egypt
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced that Egypt has finalised a Gaza reconstruction plan, which will be presented at an emergency Arab summit in Cairo on Tuesday.
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The plan aims to ensure that Palestinians remain in their homeland and that the rebuilding of Gaza is prioritised.
Abdelatty emphasised that Egypt would seek international financial backing for the plan, highlighting Europe’s potential role in funding reconstruction efforts.
“We will hold intensive talks with major donor countries once the plan is adopted at the upcoming Arab Summit,” he said during a press conference with EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica.
Escalating violence in Gaza
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that four people were killed and six others wounded in Israeli attacks on Sunday, marking the first casualties following the breakdown of the temporary truce.
Hamas condemned Israel’s suspension of humanitarian aid as a “war crime” and a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to suspend humanitarian aid is cheap blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant coup against the agreement,” the group said in a statement.
