World Reacts to Israel’s Use of Starvation as a Weapon of War by Blocking Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

QNN Team3 weeks agoLast Updated: March 3, 2025
Palestinian people with empty bowls wait for food at a donation point in Rafah in southern Gaza. [Credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu]

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Israel has been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinian civilians in Gaza following its decision to block all humanitarian aid from entering the enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on Sunday morning confirming that Israel had blocked the entry of all goods into Gaza following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

The move, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, came after Hamas refused to accept the extension of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, noting 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.

Palestinians in Gaza have already endured months of starvation during and after Israel’s 15-month assault, constantly worrying about where their next meal will come from amid Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Here’re some reactions to Israel’s move:

Arab Nations

Arab countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, strongly condemned Israel’s decision, rejecting its use of starvation as a weapon of war.

In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the move a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all religious laws.

It also expressed its unequivocal rejection of using food as a weapon of war and starving civilians.

The ministry called on the international community to compel Israel to ensure the safe, sustainable, and unobstructed entry of humanitarian aid to all areas of Gaza.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also “condemned in the strongest terms” the move as “a flagrant violation” of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 regarding the protection of civilians in times of war.

Sufyan al-Qudah, the ministry’s spokesperson, affirmed that the Israeli government’s decision constitutes “a blatant breach of the ceasefire agreement”, threatening to reignite the situation in Gaza.

Al-Qudah stressed the necessity for Israel to cease using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

He called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, and oblige Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned and denounced the Israeli decision to block all aid from entering Gaza and “to use it as a tool for blackmail and collective punishment”.

The kingdom called the move “a blatant violation of international law and a direct violation of the rules of international humanitarian law” in light of the catastrophe that Palestinians in the enclave have been exposed to as a result of Israeli attacks.

The ministry said Riyadh renews its call on the international community to stop the Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called the Israeli block a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement and international humanitarian law”.

It said there is “no justification, circumstance, or logic that allows the use of starvation of innocent civilians and imposing a siege on them”.

European Union

The bloc said Israel’s aid blockade “risked humanitarian consequences”.

“The EU calls for a rapid resumption of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, and expresses its strong support to the mediators,” Anouar El Anouni, the spokesperson for EU foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.

“A permanent ceasefire would contribute to the release of all remaining Israeli hostages while ensuring the necessary conditions for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza to begin,” El Anouni said, adding: “All parties have a political responsibility to make this a reality.”

Ireland

“I am very concerned at reports Israel has halted humanitarian aid entering into Gaza. Recent weeks saw a much-needed increase in aid reaching people in Gaza. Any threat to that poses a serious risk to people’s lives,” Simon Harris, the Irish Prime Minister, said in a statement.

MSF

The group condemned Israel’s use of aid as ‘bargaining chip’. The decision is “outrageous and will have devastating consequences”, said the group’s emergency coordinator Caroline Seguin.

“Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war,” added the charity, known by its French acronym MSF, in a statement. “Regardless of negotiations between warring parties, people in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies.”

CAIR

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said far-right Israel’s decision to block all humanitarian aid going into Gaza adds to the war crimes case against Israeli leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“The decision by the far-right government of indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu to block all humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza during Ramadan is a clear war crime and is further evidence of Israel’s genocidal intent,” the Washington, DC-based organisation said.

“Israel’s renewed cruel and illegal campaign of forced starvation adds more evidence to the International Criminal Court’s genocide case against Israeli officials.”

CAIR noted media reports that indicated the move was coordinated with the Trump administration and added, “It is unconscionable that our nation’s government would reportedly support this crime against humanity.”

The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza”.

Oxfam

The rights group condemned Israel’s use of humanitarian aid as a “bargaining chip”, noting the renewed blockade of the Gaza Strip is “explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law”.

In a statement, Oxfam said it had assessed “conditions in Gaza in the wake of the January 19th announcement of a temporary ceasefire” finding “complete destruction and famine-like conditions” that have only partially been alleviated by recent deliveries.

Oxfam called on governments to “apply immediate pressure on Israel”, adding that “the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to ensure aid deliveries at scale throughout Gaza”.

Former UK Labour Leader

Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party between 2015 and 2020, said that Israel’s actions were a “resumption of genocide”, before adding that the British government – led by Labour – was “complicit”.

UN Special Rapporteur

UN Special Rapporteur in the occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, said “fully closing down Gaza AGAIN, while resuming hostilities, is much more than a violation of the ceasefire. It is an escalation of Israel’s genocidal campaign against the Palestinians.”

To be updated..

QNN Team3 weeks agoLast Updated: March 3, 2025

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