Turkey, Pakistan condemn Israel for blocking Gaza aid

TEHRAN (Iran News) Turkey and Pakistan have joined an international chorus of criticism of an Israeli decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, with both countries saying that the decision constitutes a “blatant violation of international law.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday, condemning the Israeli decision “in the strongest possible terms.”

“This latest action is part of Israel’s systematic campaign to deny much needed humanitarian aid to millions of Palestinians in dire need. This constitutes yet another blatant violation of international law by the occupying power, and could imperil the ceasefire agreement,” said the statement released on the official website of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

“We call on the international community to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, and to hold Israel accountable for imposition of collective punishment through denial of humanitarian aid to millions of civilians,” the statement further said.

In a statement also issued on Monday, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel for denying the Palestinian people access to essential supplies, saying that the measure constitutes “a blatant violation of international law”, Anadolu news agency reported.

Tel Aviv’s decision, intends to “collectively punish” the Palestinians, and also undermines efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the ministry further said in its statement.

It called on the international community to take swift action to guarantee the “unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid” to Gaza and ensure that Israel fulfills its obligations, the statement added.

Israel blocked the entry of goods and supplies to war-ravaged Gaza on Sunday, a day after the first phase of a ceasefire deal with Hamas expired.

The regime said it did so because Hamas had refused to accept a U.S. proposal that called for the extension of the first phase and the release of the Israeli prisoners still held in Gaza, without talks being held on the second phase. “Turkey”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also rejected Hamas’ proposal for a permanent ceasefire as “totally unacceptable” and threatened the resistance movement with additional measures if it continues to refuse the U.S. proposal.

Hamas has said Israel’s blocking aid into Gaza is “cheap extortion, a war crime and a blatant attack on the ceasefire agreement.” The movement has also said it wants the agreement to be implemented in all its stages.

Several Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Kuwait also condemned Israel for suspending aid into Gaza which already faces a dire humanitarian situation because of the regime’s genocidal war that was paused on January 19 when the ceasefire took effect.