After weeks of a ceasefire agreement that saw release of hundreds of prisoners and hostages and delivery of vital humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities have blocked off all aid to the strip and have also cut the electricity supply to the war-battered Palestinian territory. The State of Qatar and several other Arab nations including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt have censured the latest Israeli moves. Qatar said the Israeli policies of besieging the Palestinian people in Gaza and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid ultimately seek to impose starvation and escalate tensions in the Strip. Kuwait termed the move as continuation of a policy of collective punishment practiced by Israeli authorities against Palestinians. Jordan said Israel’s electricity cut to Gaza was “a clear continuation of the policy of starvation and siege imposed by Israel”. The Doctors Without Borders said yesterday that Israel had “instrumentalised humanitarian needs” and was “normalising the use of aid as a negotiation tool” in Gaza. Power supply suspension will severely impact the public water supply to Gaza's some 2.4 million people. The medical charity warned that with the suspension of electricity supply, Gaza’s water desalination plant had already run out of fuel. The International Court of Justice is also due to hold hearings next month on Israel’s humanitarian obligations towards Palestinians. The United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution in December requesting that the world body’s top court give an advisory opinion on the matter. The court has already said in its advisory opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory was “illegal” and must end as soon as possible. The people of Gaza are in dire need of humanitarian aid. Bodies are still being pulled out of the rubble of the collapsed buildings and the death toll from Israeli attacks stands at 48,515, with 111,941 individuals injured since October 7, 2023. Given the dire humanitarian situation in the strip, the global community must act urgently and compel Israel to allow unhindered aid access to Gaza and restore electricity supply at the earliest.
