RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday the Israeli government’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it an act of “blackmail and collective punishment” that violates international law.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its denunciation of Israel’s move, warning that it constituted a direct violation of international humanitarian law amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The Kingdom renews its call on the international community to stop these serious Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid,” the statement said.
The condemnation comes as Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza over the weekend, escalating tensions over a truce that had temporarily halted fighting for the past six weeks.
Hamas has called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene in the standoff.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel had adopted a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming Ramadan and Passover periods. If agreed upon, the truce would pause hostilities until the end of Ramadan around March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday around April 20.
