Egypt And Saudi Arabia Condemn The Termination Of The Entry Of Humanitarian Aid To Gaza

JAKARTA - Egypt and Saudi Arabia have criticized Israel's move to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, as Israel wants an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, while the Hamas Group wants the second phase of talks to begin.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday Egypt asserted that the action was a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all religious principles.

Egypt insists there is no justification, circumstances, or logic that could allow the use of hunger and blockade against innocent civilians, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as a weapon against the Palestinian people.

On the same occasion Egypt called on the international community to take responsibility for ending all illegal and inhumane practices targeting civilians and condemning efforts to achieve political goals at the expense of innocent lives.

Separately, Saudi Arabia condemned Israel's move to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, using it as a means of extortion and collective punishment.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia reiterated its call to the international community to end Israel's gross abuses, activating an international accountability mechanism and ensuring the delivery of continued humanitarian aid.

It is known that the first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel ended on March 1.

In the first phase, Hamas handed over 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais who were repatriated in unscheduled release, in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and prisoners from Israeli prisons and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from several positions in Gaza.

Under the initial agreement, the second phase is meant to begin negotiations over the release of the remaining 59 hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the end of the war.

But the negotiations never started and Israel said all its hostages had to be sent home for the battle to stop.

"Israel will not allow a ceasefire without the release of our hostages," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, announcing the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip would be halted.

"If Hamas continues to refuse, there will be additional consequences."

Hamas denounced Israel's actions as "extortion" and "open coup against the agreement".

"We ask the mediator to suppress the occupation to fulfill its obligations under the agreement, at all stages," he said, adding the only way to regain the hostages was to comply with the agreement and start negotiations for the second phase.

Commenting on the suspension of aid entry, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the decision would affect ceasefire negotiations, adding his group "does not respond to pressure."