Gaza (Quds News Network)- Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemned Israel’s decision to block all humanitarian aid and electricity supplies from entering Gaza. The organization stated that Israel should stop using aid as a bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations. It warned that this practice amounts to collective punishment.
Israeli forces continue to close Karem Abu Salem crossing, Gaza’s only commercial entry point. This blockade has prevented the entry of essential humanitarian, medical, and fuel supplies.
On March 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a halt to all shipments into Gaza. The move came after the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement ended. Netanyahu’s decision followed his obstruction of further negotiations for the second phase.
The Union of Gaza Municipalities issued a warning on Wednesday about severe health and environmental risks. It urged the international community to act immediately to prevent a disaster. The statement emphasized the urgent need for stable water and electricity supplies. Gaza’s central desalination plant has already shut down due to electricity cuts imposed by Israel.
The ongoing power cut, which has lasted over 16 months, and the recent shutdown of the limited electricity line supplying Deir al-Balah desalination plant, pose a serious threat of widespread thirst. The use of water and food as weapons against civilians marks a dangerous escalation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Hamas stated that the Israeli government, led by Netanyahu, is committing unprecedented collective punishment against over two million people in Gaza. The resistance movement called the blockade a violation of the ceasefire agreement and a serious breach of international law.
Hamas urged Arab nations, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations to take swift action. It called for immediate measures to lift the siege and hold Israeli leaders accountable for their crimes under international justice.
From October 7, 2023, to January 19, 2025, Israel’s military actions in Gaza, backed by the U.S., have resulted in over 160,000 Palestinian casualties, most of them women and children. More than 14,000 people remain missing under the rubble.