GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Independent human rights activists have warned that Israel has resumed using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians in Gaza by violating the ceasefire agreement and preventing humanitarian aid from entering the area.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the activists expressed horror at Israel’s decision to suspend all goods and supplies once again, including lifesaving humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, following a decision by the Israeli war cabinet and ministers’ calls to reopen the “gates of hell” on the besieged territory.
They added that these actions are clearly illegal under international law. As the occupying power, Israel is always obligated to ensure sufficient food, medical supplies, and other relief services. By deliberately cutting off vital supplies, including those related to sexual and reproductive health and assistive devices for people with disabilities, Israel is once again using aid as a weapon. These actions constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute.
The activists noted that the three-phase ceasefire agreement should have led to a permanent cessation of hostilities and the release of all Palestinians and Israelis unlawfully detained as a prerequisite for sustainable peace. Instead, it has resulted in more violence and further destruction of Palestinian life, which is entirely illegal and inhumane.
They emphasized that conditions remain extremely harsh, with only a very limited number of tents and mobile homes allowed into Gaza. Palestinians, including children and the elderly, continue to die from cold and miserable conditions. They confirmed that the re-imposition of a comprehensive blockade on a population that has barely survived 16 months of continuous bombardment and repeated forced displacement, along with the destruction of 80% of agricultural land and civilian infrastructure, will exacerbate the dire situation.
The activists asserted that creating unlivable conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation is Israel’s design across the occupied Palestinian territories, from the devastated Gaza Strip to the West Bank, where the forcible annexation of land is proceeding at full speed. Refugee camps and cities have been bombed, their inhabitants evacuated and looted, while other areas are under attack by armed settlers in collusion with Israeli forces.
They pointed out that since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19, 2025, Israeli forces have killed at least 100 Palestinians in Gaza, bringing the total number of martyrs to at least 48,400. In the current situation, Israel seems determined to continue destroying Palestinian lives, including through starvation.
In its assessment of the genocide claim against Israel, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to facilitate the delivery of aid to Gaza. In 2024, when the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, the court found “grounds to believe that Israel used starvation as a method of warfare.”
The activists said that they are particularly disturbed by the quick endorsement from some countries and regional organizations justifying Israel’s cuts to aid for Gaza.
They added, “By resuming its blockade and bombing of Gaza, Israel has unilaterally changed the terms of the ceasefire agreement and subsequent steps. We urge ceasefire mediators in Gaza—Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—to intervene to uphold the agreement in line with international obligations.”
They emphasized that Israel is legally obligated to withdraw its occupation forces and comprehensive presence from the Palestinian territories, as declared by the International Court of Justice last year. This forms the basis for any party’s commitments under the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
The activists urged countries around the world to remember their obligations under international law and act to end this relentless brutal assault on the Palestinian people and their rights, lest this storm of chaos and injustice engulf the entire world.
