Britain, France and Germany warn Israel it could be breaching international law with its aid ban on Gaza – amid fears PM Netanyahu will cut off electricity into the Strip to pressurise Hamas
Britain, France and Germany have warned Israel it risks breaching international humanitarian law with what rights groups have branded its “Gaza starvation policy”.
The UN Food Agency says Israel’s aid blockade on the Strip leaves trapped Palestinians with just two more weeks of food for local kitchens and shops, with prices soaring. It comes after Israel slapped a ban on incoming aid such as food, medicine, fuel and other supplies on Gaza to pressurise Hamas into agreeing an extended ceasefire.
Phase one of the truce came to a worrying end on Saturday, heralding fears of a return to all-out war between Hamas and Israel – and elsewhere in the Middle East. After more than 16 months of war, Gaza’s population is entirely dependent on trucked-in food and other aid.
Most are displaced from their homes, and many need shelter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also threatened to cut off electricity into Gaza in a bid to force Hamas to back down. But in a joint statement, David Lammy and his French and German counterparts said they had “deep concern” at Israel’s decision to stop goods and supplies.
They said humanitarian aid “should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool”. The statement said: “It is vital that the ceasefire is sustained, all the hostages are released, and continued flows of humanitarian aid to Gaza are ensured. We urge all parties to engage constructively in negotiating the subsequent phases of the deal to help ensure its full implementation and a permanent end to hostilities. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic.
“We express our deep concern at the government of Israel’s announcement on March 2 to halt all entry of goods and supplies into Gaza.” The ministers said “a halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza, such as that announced by the government of Israel would risk violating international humanitarian law”. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government halted aid entering Gaza on Sunday and warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas did not accept a US proposal for a truce extension.
An Israeli teenager has died from wounds sustained in a car ramming attack last week, Israeli authorities said Wednesday. She was identified as Yaheli Gur, 17. A Palestinian driver rammed his car into people at a highway bus stop in northern Israel on Thursday, wounding at least eight in what authorities said was a militant attack. It is claimed by Palestinian health officials more than 48,000 have been killed in Israel’s war on Hamas, which sparked the conflict with their October 7 2023 attack. The war in Gaza sparked a brutal conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah – plus missile attacks by Iran and its Yemeni Houthi rebel proxies.
