The occupation has cut off aid to Gaza.. Arab countries condemn it and describe it as "blackmail and collective punishment"

The Israeli occupation government prevented the entry of relief aid into Gaza at the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, and Arab countries considered the occupation's move as "blackmail and collective punishment."

Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned, on Sunday evening, the decision of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, while he refuses to abide by the agreement and negotiate the second phase of the agreement.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned the halting of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the closure of crossings used for relief work. It stressed that these measures represent a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all religious laws.

It also stressed - in a statement - Egypt's absolute rejection of the use of starvation of innocent civilians and the imposition of a siege on them as a weapon against the Palestinian people, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Egypt called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities to stop all illegal and inhumane practices targeting civilians, and to condemn attempts to achieve political goals by endangering the lives of innocent people.

For its part, Saudi Arabia expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the decision of the Israeli occupation government to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and its use as a tool for blackmail and collective punishment.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that this "constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and a direct violation of the rules of international humanitarian law, in light of the humanitarian catastrophe that the Palestinian people are facing."

The Kingdom renewed its call to the international community to stop these serious Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid.

In addition, Jordan condemned in the strongest terms Israel's decision, and the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates considered in a statement today that Israel's decision to stop the entry of aid is a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Time of War of 1949.

The official spokesman for the ministry, Ambassador Sufian Al-Qudah, confirmed that the Israeli government's decision is a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, which threatens to cause the situation to explode again in the Gaza Strip.

He stressed the need for Israel to stop using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians and innocent people by imposing a siege on them, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

He called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and oblige Israel to continue with the ceasefire agreement, ensure the implementation of all its stages, and open the crossings designated for sending humanitarian aid to various parts of the Strip, which is suffering from an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced earlier today, Sunday, that Benjamin Netanyahu decided to "stop the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip as of Sunday morning, with the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement."

The decision was made a few hours after the end of the first phase of the deal, which lasted for 42 days, and came after nightly deliberations held by Netanyahu, in coordination with the US administration, according to a statement by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

The statement pointed out that "the decision was taken after Hamas refused to release additional Israeli hostages within the framework of the Witkoff proposal," which is in fact an extension of the ceasefire without a commitment or guarantees to stop the war.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies