Cairo: Tom Fletcher, the Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed concerns on Sunday regarding Israel's decision to halt aid to Gaza, stressing that international humanitarian law is clear: humanitarian access must be allowed to provide life-saving assistance.
According to Jordan News Agency, Fletcher, in a statement issued by the OCHA office, emphasized that 42 days of progress should not be reversed, calling for humanitarian aid to continue, the release of "hostages," and a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Stephan Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, reiterated the Secretary-General's call for all parties to exert every effort to prevent the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, demanding an immediate resumption of humanitarian aid and the release of all "hostages."
Egypt also condemned the decision by the Israeli government to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and close the relief corridors. According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such measures are a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all religious laws.
Egypt stressed that there is no justification for using starvation and imposing blockades on innocent civilians, especially during Ramadan, as weapons against the Palestinian people. Egypt also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities, to stop all unlawful and inhumane practices targeting civilians, and to condemn attempts to achieve political aims by putting innocent lives at risk.