After phase one of the hostage exchange and ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel expired, Tel Aviv refused to continue on to step two of the deal and demanded new negotiations. To pressure Hamas to agree to Israel’s new demands, Tel Aviv has stopped all aid and power from entering the Strip.
“Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) strongly condemns the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza, which is depriving people of basic services and critical supplies, including access to water by cutting electricity supply,” the international aid organization said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
“Israeli authorities have instrumentalized humanitarian needs by using them as a bargaining chip, such as cutting the electricity supply to Gaza and preventing all aid from entering,” the MSF press release continued. “This policy, which amounts to collective punishment, must be immediately stopped. MSF calls on Israeli authorities to respect international humanitarian law and uphold its responsibilities as an occupying power and to end this inhumane blockade of Gaza.”
The statement comes as the ceasefire continues to break down and Israel refuses to allow the agreement to progress to its second phase. The first stage of the deal ended on March 1, with Hamas holding up its commitment to release more than 30 Israeli hostages.
However, Tel Aviv did not comply with phase one of the agreement, blocking aid from entering the Strip, while IDF troops in Gaza killed over 100 Palestinians during the ceasefire. Additionally, Israel refused to enter talks on finalizing the details of phase two of the deal, instead demanding an extension of the first phase.
Tel Aviv, with Washington’s backing, is demanding that Hamas release all of its Israeli hostages without a permanent Israeli withdrawal or ceasefire in Gaza. The cutting of all food, medicine, and power is an effort to pressure Hamas to take the reworked deal. MSF also highlighted how Israel’s allies are aiding in the collective deprivation of the Palestinians.
“Israel’s allies have purposefully ignored this grave violation of international humanitarian law and normalized this conduct,” it said. “MSF also urges Israel’s allies, including the United States, to refrain from normalizing such actions and to act decisively to prevent Gaza from plunging further into devastation.”
Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the US has approved $12 billion in arms sales to Israel. Tel Aviv has repeatedly used American-made weapons in attacks on civilian targets in Gaza, and many of the arms sent to Israel are paid for by US taxpayers. Under President Joe Biden, Washington provided Tel Aviv with $20 billion in military aid during the first year of the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.
