RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation government’s decision to block the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement, called it an act of “blackmail and collective punishment” that violates international law.
“The use of aid as a tool for extortion and collective punishment constitutes a blatant violation of international law and a direct infringement of the basis of international humanitarian law, especially in light of the humanitarian catastrophe facing the Palestinian people,” it added.
The Kingdom reiterated its call on the international community to put an end to these grave Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure the sustainable delivery of aid.
The condemnation follows Israel’s decision to block aid trucks from entering Gaza over the weekend, raising tensions regarding a truce that had temporarily halted fighting for the past six weeks.
Hamas has urged Egyptian and Qatari mediators to step in and help resolve the deadlock.
In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel had agreed to a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming Ramadan and Passover periods. If accepted, the truce would pause hostilities until the end of Ramadan on March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday on April 20.
Muslim World League condemnation
The Muslim World League (MWL) has also condemned the Israeli occupation government’s decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
In a statement issued by the MWL’s General Secretariat, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the MWL and Chairman of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars, denounced this decision as a blatant violation of international laws and norms.
Dr. Al-Issa reiterated his call for the international community to take a firm stance against these violations and to put an end to the systematic atrocities committed against innocent civilians in the strip. He emphasised the importance of holding the perpetrators accountable.
