There are rising concerns among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip about Israel’s recent decision to stop the flow of food and supplies. This cut could worsen an already critical humanitarian crisis.
On Sunday, Israel announced it would halt the entry of essential goods into Gaza. Palestinians believe this will lead to even more suffering. Yahya Al-Sharif, a Palestinian from Rafah, expressed his fears: “Closing the crossings will make the situation worse than it is now. Our situation is not good while the crossings are open. What will it be if they’re closed?”
Another displaced resident, Mohammed Abu Shalhoub, described the situation as a “decision of genocide.” He lamented that while the world watches, help remains insufficient for the people of Gaza.
The first part of a recent ceasefire allowed for a temporary increase in humanitarian aid after months of deepening hardship. However, the United Nations and various aid organizations criticized Israel’s decision to stop supplies, warning that the current aid is far from meeting the needs on the ground. Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, referred to this decision as “alarming,” emphasizing that international law mandates access to aid.
Hamas accused Israel of undermining the ceasefire and labeled the supply cut as a “war crime.” Egypt and Qatar also echoed these concerns, claiming that Israel is violating both the ceasefire agreement and humanitarian law by using starvation as a weapon against civilians.
The ceasefire’s initial phase ended on Sunday, and discussions are set to begin regarding the more complex second phase. Israel claims that its choice to cut supplies is a reaction to Hamas’ refusal to extend the ceasefire. Reports suggest that a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy could have influenced this situation, although he has not publicly commented on it.
Under the proposal, Hamas would release some of the 59 Israeli hostages it holds in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. While talk of negotiations continues, Hamas insists that discussions for the next phase of the ceasefire should start immediately.
The ongoing conflict began with Hamas’ attack on October 7, which has led to more than 2 million people in Gaza relying heavily on international aid. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, around 600 aid trucks have entered Gaza daily, highlighting the needs of the population.
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Source linkThe Gaza Strip,Israel,Food,Ceasefire
