Israel's decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza since early Sunday has sparked fierce condemnation from Palestinian factions, regional countries, and international organizations.
At the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision \"to prevent any entry of goods and supplies into Gaza\" was made to pressure Hamas into accepting a new proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, which he said was put forth by U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
He warned that Hamas would face \"additional consequences\" if it did not agree to the proposal.
In response, Hamas condemned the decision, calling it in a statement a \"blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase.\" The group said blocking aid to Gaza's 2 million residents was \"cheap blackmail and a war crime\" and urged mediators and the international community to press Israel to reverse the decision.
Mahmoud Meedawi, a senior Hamas official, said in a press statement that the group refused to extend the first phase of the agreement with Israel, stressing the need to implement all its phases as originally signed.
Condemnations
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called the decision \"a flagrant violation of the ceasefire\" and an indication that Israel seeks to evade the second phase of the agreement.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine also condemned the decision, calling it an escalation of Israel's \"starvation warfare\" against Gaza's population, which will only deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Islamic Jihad called the decision \"a crime against humanity\" in a press statement. It accused the United States of shielding Israel as it continues to provide military aid and political cover for it.
In a press statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said \"We strongly reject the politicization of humanitarian aid and its use as a tool for extortion.\" It also called on the international community to hold Israel accountable and ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Foreign ministries from both Egypt and Jordan said on Sunday that using aid as a weapon of collective punishment and starvation in Gaza is unacceptable and impermissible emphasized the urgent need for Israel to cease that decision. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for \"humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza immediately and for the release of all hostages\" and urged \"all parties to make every effort to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza\" in a statement on Sunday.
Uncertain future
The blockade of humanitarian supplies means that Palestinians are struggling to find food.
The situation in the enclave region is chaotic and the Palestinians are very nervous. They are looking for flour, bread, and anything else they can eat during the fasting period of Ramadan. Besides, they also feared that the Israeli army will again launch a relentless assault.
Later on Sunday, Israeli officials said a delegation would arrive in Cairo in an apparent move to discuss ways to defuse tensions and ensure the ceasefire remains in effect.
Over the past six weeks, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire agreement. But despite repeated setbacks, it has remained in place while the hostage-for-prisoner exchange envisaged in the first phase was completed.
Under the original agreement, the second phase was intended to see the start of negotiations over the release of the remaining 59 hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and a final end to the war.
However the talks never began and Israel says all its hostages must be returned for fighting to stop.
