UN Warns Israel’s Gaza Aid Blockade Will Have Dire Impact

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned that Israel’s move to block all humanitarian aid to Gaza will have devastating consequences for families and children already struggling to survive.

Israel has imposed a block on all aid entering Gaza following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on Sunday morning confirming the move, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan.

“The aid restrictions announced yesterday will severely compromise lifesaving operations for civilians,” said Edouard Beigbeder, Unicef’s Regional Director for the Middle East.

He stressed that maintaining the ceasefire is crucial, calling it “a critical lifeline for children,” and urged for unrestricted aid access to scale up humanitarian efforts.

Children and families across Gaza are struggling to survive without enough food, medicine, or shelter. And with 19 out of 35 hospitals only partially functioning, the health system has been stretched far beyond its limits, the UN’s children group added.

Israel’s decision came after Hamas refused to accept the extension of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Israel said that it had accepted a last-minute proposal put on the table by the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire over Ramadan and Passover.

According to Israel, the proposal also outlined the release of all captives still in Gaza in two stages, with the second stage contingent on negotiating a permanent ceasefire.

“With the end of phase one of the hostage deal, and in light of Hamas’ refusal to accept the [US envoy Steve] Witkoff outline for continuing the talks – to which Israel agreed, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided that starting this morning all entry of goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip will cease,” Netanyahu’s office statement said.

“Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages. If Hamas continues its refusal, there will be further consequences.”

Hamas refused to extend it, noting it will only release captives in phases, per the ceasefire agreement, which Israel is now refusing to continue.

It said it would only accept moving to the second stage, which was supposed to guarantee the definitive end of the assault, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of remaining captives.

Hamas also slammed Israel’s decision to block the entry of aid and adopt the US proposal. In a statement, the movement said this “is a blatant attempt to renege on the agreement and evade negotiations for its second phase.”

“Netanyahu’s decision to block the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza is a cheap blackmail and a war crime in an appalling violation of the ceasefire deal. Mediators and the international community must act to place pressure on the occupation and put an end to its punitive and immoral measures against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas stated that Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire since it took effect, which has resulted in the killing of over 100 people in Gaza and the disruption of the humanitarian protocol. This includes blocking the entry of sheltering and relief aid, further aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has committed around 962 violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Israel’s Channel 12, citing an Israeli official, said on Monday that the occupation government has set a deadline 10 days from now for Hamas to release the remaining captives in Gaza before a return to war.

“We are currently at a dead end regarding the deal negotiations,” the official told Channel 12.

At the parliament on Monday, Netanyahu threatened to resume the genocide war on Gaza. “I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine,” he said.

Defence Minister Katz later warned if Hamas did not free the captives, “the gates of Gaza will be locked, and the gates of hell will open”.

“We will return to fighting, and they will face the (army) with forces and methods they have never encountered—until a decisive victory,” he said in a statement.

Israeli reports are now revealing that the occupation government is planning to also cut electricity and water supplies to the enclave.

According to the Israel Hayom newspaper, Israel is willing to cut electricity and water if Hamas does not agree to extend phase one of the ceasefire deal, instead of moving on to phase two.

The newspaper reported that mediators have been given a few days to persuade Hamas to bend to Israel’s demands, with Netanyahu not preparing to agree to end the assault.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 14 reported that Energy Minister Eli Cohen is planning to request a stop to the supply of electricity to Gaza in the next cabinet meeting.

Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan News, also claimed in a report that Gaza has enough food supplies for “four months,” so Israel has halted all fuel supplies that are used to generate electricity and is considering cutting off water to all of Gaza.