March 3, 2025
Mera Aladam
Israeli shelling near Khan Younis kills at least five people and wounded 21 others, as rights groups condemn new blockade as a 'tool of war'
Mera Aladam
Israeli shelling near Khan Younis kills at least five people and wounded 21 others, as rights groups condemn new blockade as a 'tool of war'
Children react during the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli
strike, in north Gaza, 2 March 2025 (Reuters/Abd Elhkeem Khaled)
Israeli authorities are planning to cut off water and electricity to the Gaza Strip, and renew the push to displace the population from northern Gaza to the south, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan 11.
The plan by the government is part of a strategy to apply "maximum pressure on the Gaza Strip and Hamas".
It follows the blocking of aid from entering the Gaza Strip on Sunday after the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
The move, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, comes after Hamas demanded that Israel moves to the second phase of the deal as previously agreed.
The second phase includes a definitive end of the war, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of the remaining Israeli captives.
Meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelling near the southern city of Khan Younis killed at least five people and wounded 21 others in the past 48 hours, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Despite officially halting the fighting, the Israeli army has repeatedly violated the truce, launching air strikes and shooting at Palestinians since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Several areas were targeted on Sunday since the first phase concluded, including the Shujaiyya neighbourhood in Gaza City, the Gaza airport area nearing Rafah, and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
Shortage of aid
The blockade of aid was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday.
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the decision as an "important step in the right direction," adding in another statement that the next step in the war in Gaza will be cutting off the electricity and water and "opening the gates of hell on Gaza with a powerful, deadly and quick attack".
The announcement sparked backlash amongst rights groups and experts.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced Israel's decision to block aid.
"Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war. Regardless of negotiations between warring parties, people in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies," MSF said.
MSF further warned in a press statement that the move will further "deepen the humanitarian crisis for two million people".
"Israel’s total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a cruel act of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) warned in a press statement that the move will further "deepen the humanitarian crisis for two million people".
"Israel’s total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a cruel act of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
"A year ago, the International Court of Justice ordered measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but by again blocking aid Israel continues to violate them," MAP added, urging the international community to take action and condemn Israel's decision to halt aid.
Mohammed Alkhatib, MAP’s deputy director of programmes in Gaza, described the move as "a continuation of the mockery of humanity, and double standards towards the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, and the world is still standing by watching.”
The plan by the government is part of a strategy to apply "maximum pressure on the Gaza Strip and Hamas".
It follows the blocking of aid from entering the Gaza Strip on Sunday after the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
The move, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, comes after Hamas demanded that Israel moves to the second phase of the deal as previously agreed.
The second phase includes a definitive end of the war, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of the remaining Israeli captives.
Meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelling near the southern city of Khan Younis killed at least five people and wounded 21 others in the past 48 hours, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Despite officially halting the fighting, the Israeli army has repeatedly violated the truce, launching air strikes and shooting at Palestinians since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Several areas were targeted on Sunday since the first phase concluded, including the Shujaiyya neighbourhood in Gaza City, the Gaza airport area nearing Rafah, and Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
Shortage of aid
The blockade of aid was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday.
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomed the decision as an "important step in the right direction," adding in another statement that the next step in the war in Gaza will be cutting off the electricity and water and "opening the gates of hell on Gaza with a powerful, deadly and quick attack".
The announcement sparked backlash amongst rights groups and experts.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced Israel's decision to block aid.
"Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war. Regardless of negotiations between warring parties, people in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies," MSF said.
MSF further warned in a press statement that the move will further "deepen the humanitarian crisis for two million people".
"Israel’s total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a cruel act of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) warned in a press statement that the move will further "deepen the humanitarian crisis for two million people".
"Israel’s total blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a cruel act of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
"A year ago, the International Court of Justice ordered measures to prevent genocide in Gaza, but by again blocking aid Israel continues to violate them," MAP added, urging the international community to take action and condemn Israel's decision to halt aid.
Mohammed Alkhatib, MAP’s deputy director of programmes in Gaza, described the move as "a continuation of the mockery of humanity, and double standards towards the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, and the world is still standing by watching.”
No comments:
Post a Comment