Israel Weaponizes Gaza Aid, Restricting Number of Humanitarian Trucks

Gaza (QNN)- Israel announced it was intensifying its blockade of Gaza, despite a ceasefire agreement that called for increased humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian enclave, following two years of genocide and an Israeli-made famine.

Israel said the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would remain closed through Wednesday. Israel is now allowing only half the number of aid trucks it promised to let in.

Israel also notified the UN that no fuel or gas will be allowed into the enclave except for what it deems necessary for “humanitarian infrastructure”.

Israel claimed the move came because Hamas had been too slow to turn over bodies of dead captives.

Hamas negotiators have reportedly stated during ceasefire talks that the presence of Israeli forces and the genocidal, indiscriminate Israeli attacks that caused widespread destruction would complicate the task of locating the bodies of dead captives, requiring greater time and effort.

“They made it clear during the negotiations that time and great efforts will be needed after the withdrawal of the occupying Israeli forces, to collect information about the bodies,” a Hamas source told MEE.

“This was clear and accepted during the negotiations. The signed agreement included a very clear clause about this. Clause 5 e in the agreement stated: ‘Establishment of an information-sharing mechanism between the two sides through the mediators and the ICRC, to exchange information and intelligence on any remaining deceased hostages that were not retrieved within the 72 hours or remains of Gazans held by Israel. The mechanism shall ensure that the remains of all the hostages are fully and safely exhumed and released. Hamas shall exert maximum effort to ensure the fulfilment of these commitments as soon as possible’”.

Hamas on Monday released 20 living captives, as well as the bodies of four killed captives. Twenty-eight dead captives are due to be handed over as part of the deal.

Aid agencies said a major ramp-up of aid needed to ease famine and suffering in Gaza after two years of war has yet to happen.

“We need all crossings open. The longer Rafah stays closed the more the suffering prolongs for people in Gaza, especially those displaced in the South,” UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said on Tuesday.

All of the aid so far has been through the south and central crossing of Kissufim, US agencies said, with those at the epicentre of the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, to where tens of thousands of people are returning, still shut.

“The shift has not yet happened. We are still witnessing only few trucks coming in, and large crowds approaching these trucks in a way that does absolutely not conform to humanitarian standards,” ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.

Throughout the two-year genocide in Gaza, Israel was accused of blocking life-saving aid and using starvation as a weapon of war.