Palestinians gather around a fire to keep warm in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Egypt denounced the Israeli escalation as a new flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Egypt said it completely rejects Israel’s “collective punishment policies, including the suspension of humanitarian aid entry.”
The statement warned that such actions would exacerbate the situation in Gaza.
On Sunday, Israel announced a halt to Gaza’s electricity supply in a bid to pressure Hamas to accept new conditions in the ongoing talks to prolong the fragile ceasefire and release the remaining Israeli captives.
The Israeli escalation, met with Arab and global condemnation, is expected to worsen the humanitarian conditions in the strip.
The move comes a week after Israel suspended the entry of all goods and supplies to Gaza, renewing its deadly blockade on the strip.
The electricity cutoff echoes a tactic previously employed by Israel during its genocidal war on the strip, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 111,000.
Thousands more are feared to be buried under rubble, according to local health authorities.
A Palestinian family prepare their iftar meal next to the debris of their home in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP
Israel wants Hamas to prolong the first phase of the ceasefire – which took effect on 19 January and ended on 1 March – and release the remaining captives from Gaza in return for nothing.
However, Hamas wants to start negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire, as previously agreed upon.
Israel avoids moving to the second phase, which would entail a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in return for the release of the remaining captives from Gaza as per the terms agreed upon in January.
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