Israel suspends humanitarian assistance to Gaza following Hamas's rejection of a US-supported ceasefire proposition.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia criticized Israel's action of stopping aid to Gaza, with Egypt referring to it as a means of punishment and Saudi Arabia calling it “blackmail.”
The cessation of humanitarian support and imports to Gaza by Israel occurred after a six-week ceasefire with Hamas concluded on Sunday. This followed the Iranian-affiliated Palestinian group's refusal of an American initiative to prolong the truce, which raised tensions significantly.
Egypt, serving as a crucial mediator aiming to prolong the ceasefire, was vocal in its disapproval of Israel’s action. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated in a news conference that assistance should not be utilized as “a weapon for collective punishment or to induce starvation.”
The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia also expressed its condemnation of the action, describing it as a “tool for blackmailing and collective punishment.”
Hamas characterized the cessation of aid as “blackmail” and “a war crime,” while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar highlighted the fragile state of Israeli hostages who were recently freed from Gaza, contrasting their condition with the crowds surrounding them.
“The terrorists and the gathered crowd appeared to be in good health, but our hostages are the ones who looked like they were suffering from hunger,” Sa'ar remarked in a press conference alongside his Croatian counterpart. He noted that “a significant number of trucks” had entered the Gaza Strip during the previous six weeks.
Conflicts regarding Hamas’s future status have hindered advancements on a suggested Phase 2, which entails the complete military retreat of Israel from Gaza and the retrieval of the remaining hostages.
No comments:
Post a Comment