ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday strongly condemned Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan, saying that the move could “imperil” its ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday amid a standoff over its uneasy truce with Hamas that has halted fighting since January. The blockade is likely to add significant pressure on the over two million Palestinians who are still suffering from shortages of essential goods following 15 months of war.
Israel’s move to block aid into Gaza has been criticized by Muslim countries, including Pakistan, who dread the move could lead to increasing hostilities and trigger a fresh war in Gaza.
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms Israel’s decision to block critical humanitarian aid from entering Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during a weekly press briefing.
He said Israel’s latest action is part of its systematic campaign to deny 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,” Khan said.
He urged the international community to ensure unrestricted access to humanitarian aid to Gaza and hold Israel accountable for imposing “collective punishment” on millions of Palestinians by denying them aid.
Tensions between Israel and Hamas reached a boiling point after the Palestinian group launched a full-pronged attack in southern Israel on Oct.7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people as hostages into Gaza.
The subsequent Israeli military campaign killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, displaced almost all of its 2.3 million population and left Gaza a wasteland.
UN and other international aid agencies have been warning against the outbreak of diseases and starvation in Gaza due to Israel’s military campaign in the enclave.
