Beyza Binnur Donmez
07 March 2025•Update: 07 March 2025
- 'By resuming its siege and bombardment of Gaza, Israel has unilaterally changed the conditions of the ceasefire agreement and next steps,' they say
GENEVA
UN experts expressed alarm Thursday over Israel's decision to suspend all humanitarian aid into Gaza, describing the situation as "weaponizing starvation."
The remarks came after the Israeli War Cabinet's decision to break from the Gaza ceasefire agreement and calls by ministers to re-open the "gates of hell" in the besieged enclave.
"Apart from the cruelty of these statements on the second day of the (Muslim) holy month of Ramadan, these moves are patently unlawful under international law," they said, noting that as the occupying power, Israel is always obliged to ensure sufficient food, medical supplies and other relief services.
"By deliberately cutting vital supplies, including those relating to sexual and reproductive health, and assistive devices for persons with disabilities, Israel is once again weaponizing aid," they said. "These are serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws, and war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute."
The experts also stressed that the ceasefire "never ended" fire against the Palestinians.
Since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19, Israeli forces have killed at least 100 Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the total killed to at least 48,400, they said.
"By resuming its siege and bombardment of Gaza, Israel has unilaterally changed the conditions of the ceasefire agreement and next steps," the experts said, urging the Gaza ceasefire mediators -- Egypt, Qatar and the US -- to intervene to preserve the agreement in line with international obligations.
"We urge nations across the world to recall their own obligations under international law and to act to end this brutal and endless assault on the Palestinian people and their rights, lest the whole world be swept up in this storm of lawlessness and injustice," they concluded.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called for “opening the gates of hell” on the Gaza Strip after a government decision to halt humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave.
The Israeli government stopped the entry of humanitarian aid into the war-torn territory on Sunday, just hours after the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal expired.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and left much of the territory in ruins.
