Israel blocks Gaza Aid

A Hamas spokesman called blocking supplies to Gaza “cheap blackmail” and a “coup” against the ceasefire agreement, urging mediators to step in.

The ceasefire deal put an end to 15 months of fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military. It also facilitated the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Joe Biden initially suggested the three-stage internationally-mediated ceasefire strategy.

Phases of Ceasefire

Phase one of the ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, expired on January 19, Saturday. Hamas called for Israel to move on to the next phase, as agreed, but Israel has instead pushed for a continuation of phase one until the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, in line with a proposal from the top US envoy to the region.

Negotiators were expected to start phase two, which was supposed to lead to a permanent ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, weeks ago, but they have barely made any progress.

Phase three aims to return the bodies of all remaining dead hostages and begin the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years.

Hamas has made it clear that it will not agree to an extension of phase one unless there are guarantees from the mediators that phase two will eventually take place.

Food prices skyrocket due to suspension of Gaza aid

After Israel closed the gates into the enclave, UN humanitarians reported on Monday that the cost of flour and vegetables in the Gaza Strip increased more than 100 times and that they are still waiting to deliver basic necessities.

Tom Fletcher, the UN emergency relief coordinator, expressed concern on social media Sunday, calling Israel’s decision to halt aid to Gaza “indeed alarming.”

Tom Fletcher, the UN emergency relief coordinator, emphasized, “International humanitarian law is clear: we must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid. We need to get aid in and the hostages out.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged all parties to do everything they can to avoid a return to hostilities in Gaza. He called for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages, as stated by his spokesperson during the daily briefing.

“The ceasefire has provided the opportunity to distribute food and water, as well as shelter assistance and medical aid, allowing nearly everyone in Gaza to receive food parcels,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during a briefing with reporters in New York.

He also added, “Our humanitarian partners tell us that following the closure of the crossings into Gaza yesterday, flour and vegetable prices increased more than 100 percent. Partners are currently assessing the stocks that are currently available.”

UNICEF : ‘A critical situation’

The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, stated on Monday that the closure of the Kerem Shalom, Erez, and Zikim crossings prevents the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, including thousands of tents, to civilians in need.

The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned that halting aid deliveries into Gaza will quickly have devastating consequences for children and families who are just trying to survive.

Since the ceasefire on January 19, UNICEF and partners have provided warm clothing to 150,000 children and expanded water distribution to nearly half a million people in remote areas.

Since the truce began, thousands of pregnant and lactating women and approximately 250,000 children have also received nutritional supplements.

For the past two weeks, aid partners in Rafah, Khan Younis, and Deir al Balah have been distributing vegetable seed kits to promote varied diets.