Following the conclusion of the initial phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the suspension of all aid and commercial goods entering Gaza.
This decision comes as over two million Palestinians in Gaza endure severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, with the healthcare system on the brink of collapse due to the extensive destruction caused by Israel’s military onslaught. The war has resulted in more than 160,000 Palestinian fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries, including thousands of children and women.
The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid constitutes a grave breach of international law and a crime against humanity, necessitating immediate international intervention. Under Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power is obliged to ensure the provision of essential food and medical supplies to the civilian population and is explicitly prohibited from using humanitarian assistance as a tool for political or military coercion.
Furthermore, Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court criminalises the intentional imposition of living conditions aimed at destruction, rendering such actions potential war crimes under international law. The systematic deprivation inflicted on Gaza’s civilian population violates fundamental humanitarian principles and amounts to collective punishment.
Despite official condemnations from some Western nations, their continued military and political backing for Israel, particularly from the United States and key European states, undermines the credibility of their statements. The unwavering support for Israeli actions has effectively allowed the occupation to maintain its oppressive policies with impunity.
The failure of the international community to take decisive action will only exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe and prolong the suffering of Gaza’s population. There is an urgent need for concerted legal and diplomatic efforts to compel Israel to end its blockade policies, ensure the unrestricted flow of humanitarian assistance, and uphold its obligations under international law.
