Qatar, Saudi, Egypt slam Israel halting Gaza aid

Qatar has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation government’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all religious laws.In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised Qatar’s unequivocal rejection of using food as a weapon of war and starving civilians. The ministry called on the international community to compel Israel to ensure the safe, sustainable, and unobstructed entry of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip.The ministry reiterated Qatar’s steadfast stance on the just Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.AFP adds: Egypt condemned Sunday Israel’s decision to stop humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip as a "flagrant violation” of the truce agreement with Hamas, which Cairo had helped broker."Egypt affirms that these measures constitute a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,” said a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry, accusing Israel of using starvation as "a weapon against the Palestinian people”.Egypt is set to host a meeting of Arab foreign ministers today, ahead of a Tuesday summit where Arab leaders are due to discuss a reconstruction plan for Gaza.Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s decision to block aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip, dubbing it "blackmail” as talks to extend a fragile truce in the war appeared at an impasse.The Israeli decision "to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and its use as a tool of blackmail and collective punishment... is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct violation of the rules of international humanitarian law”, said a foreign ministry statement.Jordan condemned Israel’s decision to stop humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, warning that it could reignite the fighting largely halted since a truce went into effect six weeks ago.