LONDON, March 3, 2025 (WAFA) – British organization Oxfam has denounced Israel's decision to block aid to millions of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, calling it a "reckless act of collective punishment."
"Israel’s decision to block aid to over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as Ramadan begins, is a reckless act of collective punishment, explicitly prohibited under international humanitarian law," it said on a statement published on its website.
"Humanitarian aid is not a bargaining chip for applying pressure on parties, but a fundamental right of civilians experiencing urgent need in challenging and life-threatening circumstances. When our teams assessed the conditions in Gaza in the wake of the January 19th announcement of a temporary ceasefire, they encountered apocalyptic scenes of complete destruction and famine-like conditions."
"People in Gaza need everything: lifesaving water, food, sanitation and other necessities, as well as equipment critical for the restoration of water and electricity. The goods that were able to enter during the weeks of ceasefire have brought some relief, but remain a drop in the ocean.The international community must apply immediate pressure on Israel to ensure vital aid urgently gets into Gaza. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to ensure aid deliveries at scale throughout Gaza," Oxfam concluded.
Meanwhile, MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders,) also strongly denounced Israel’s announcement to block aid into Gaza. Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war.
"People in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies. Israel is once again blocking an entire population from receiving aid, using it as a bargaining chip," it said in a statement published on X.
"This is unacceptable, outrageous, and will have devastating consequences," said MSF’s Caroline Seguin.
"The news has created uncertainty and fear, causing food prices to spike." While the overall number of trucks that entered Gaza has increased since the ceasefire started, restrictions by Israeli authorities on critical supplies, are hindering the humanitarian response. Most of the aid that entered was food and fuel, not nearly enough to meet the people’s immense needs."
K.T
