South Africa criticizes Israeli use of 'starvation as a weapon of war'
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The South African statement comes as 'Israel' halts the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, in yet another violation of the ceasefire deal.
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South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, left, attends the session of the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, January 26, 2024. (AP)
South Africa denounced "Israel's" use of "starvation as a weapon of war" in Gaza, emphasizing that the people of Gaza "urgently need food, shelter, and medical supplies," in a statement published Wednesday.
"Preventing food from entering Gaza is a continuation of Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war as part of the ongoing campaign of what the ICJ ruled to be plausible genocide against the Palestinian people," stated the South African Foreign Ministry, adding that Gazans are facing "immeasurable suffering."
"Israel" drew international condemnation for its decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the closing of all border crossings on Sunday in violation of the ceasefire deal.
Countries, international organizations condemn 'Israel'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the Israeli occupation to lift its suspension of humanitarian supplies to Gaza "immediately," urging all parties to take every possible measure to prevent the resumption of hostilities while emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid to flow back into Gaza without delay and for the release of all captives in a statement published on March 2.
Chief of the United Nations humanitarian organization sharply criticized the halt in the entry of aid to the Strip, noting that it violated international law, saying, "Israel's decision to halt aid into Gaza is alarming. International humanitarian law is clear: We must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid."
Egypt and Qatar condemned the Israeli decision, calling the measure a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the occupation which Egypt and Qatar helped broker, "Egypt affirms that these measures constitute a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement," stated the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, accusing "Israel" of using starvation as "a weapon against the Palestinian people."
Netanyahu halting aid 'blatant violation' of ceasefire: Hamas
Hamas affirmed that Netanyahu is blatantly violating the ceasefire by halting the entry of crucial humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling it a "cheap act of blackmail, a war crime, and a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange."
The Palestinian faction urged mediators and the international community to push the occupation government to end its "punitive and unethical measures against more than 2 million people," stating that "Netanyahu's remarks on extending the first phase are a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and sidestep negotiations for the second phase."
Hamas reaffirmed the importance of the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which "Israel" is avoiding by announcing its acceptance of a US proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal.
