Fears of starvation in Gaza as Israel continues to blockade humanitarian aid
FEARS grew today that Palestine’s population may once again be on the verge of starvation following a week-long Israeli blockade.
Israel imposed the siege to try to force Hamas to accept a different ceasefire deal to the one agreed in January.
It blocked the entry of aid shipments to Gaza on Sunday, hours after the ceasefire deal’s first phase had expired, sparking fears of hunger and more hardships during the holy month of Ramadan, which began over the weekend.
Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanou said Israel is pursuing “a policy of starvation and collective punishment” in Gaza by keeping land crossings closed and preventing the entry of crucial aid.
The siege is a “flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws and a war crime that the world must stop and hold its perpetrators accountable,” he said.
“We renew our call to the international community, all human rights and humanitarian institutions and all free people of the world to force the zionist occupation to open the crossings, bring in relief and medical aid – and end the suffering of our people.”
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