Israel’s siege on Gaza part of its ‘war of extermination’: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israel’s intensification of the siege of Gaza and preventing the entry of aid are parts of the regime’s genocidal war on the blockaded territory.

Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou said on Friday Israel’s policy of starving Palestinians in Gaza is a blatant violation of International law and amounts to a war crime.

The siege is a “flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws and a war crime that the world must stop and hold its perpetrators accountable”, he said.

The Hamas official added the world must stop Israel from continuing the starvation policy and that the perpetrators must be put on trial.

Al-Qanou called on the International community and human rights institutions to force Israel to open Gaza crossings and allow humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to enter Gaza.

“We renew our call to the international community, all human rights and humanitarian institutions, and all free people of the world to force the Zionist occupation to open the crossings, bring in relief and medical aid, and end the suffering of our people.”

Israel accepted Hamas’ longstanding negotiation terms under the Gaza truce, which began on January 19.

The first phase ended at the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli captives were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel wants to extend this phase until mid-April, but Hamas insists on transitioning to the second phase, seen as leading to a lasting ceasefire.

Israel has ramped up its rhetoric and halted the flow of aid into Gaza, prompting several nations and international organizations to warn against using aid as a "political tool."

Israel has blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza, leading to fears of food shortages in the besieged Palestinian strip.

South Africa slams Israel for weaponizing starvation in Gaza

South Africa has denounced Israel for the restriction of the entrance of food into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Rights groups have warned about the devastating consequences of the blockade of Gaza with the UN World Food Program (WFP) saying that its food stockpile will only last two weeks. 

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets recently reported that the regime plans to resume the Gaza war in the next 10 days.

The Israeli military’s new chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has also acknowledged that the regime has failed to defeat the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as he hinted at the possibility of resuming the war on Gaza.

New Israeli military chief to present plan to restart war on Gaza: Report

The Israeli military’s new chief of staff is set to present plans for the resumption of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, amid the fragile ceasefire agreement, a report says.

UNRWA censures Israel’s ‘alarming’ demolitions of Palestinian homes in West Bank

Meanwhile, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says Israeli soldiers have begun the demolition of 16 buildings in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem in the occupied northern West Bank.

In a statement, UNRWA said these large-scale demolitions are “an alarming new pattern”, have “an unprecedented impact on Palestine refugees” and “seek to permanently change the characteristics of the camps in the northern West Bank”.

The move comes after dozens of homes were recently demolished in Tulkarem and Jenin.

Israeli military forces in recent days have demolished several houses and set fire to others across Jenin and other refugee camps in northern West Bank.

The regime’s weeks-long operation has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians and ravaged refugee camps.

Israel’s latest military onslaught on the West Bank started shortly after the Gaza truce took effect in January.

It initially focused on Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, but has since expanded to more areas of the West Bank's north.

UNRWA: Israel's West Bank aggression aligns with annexation 'vision'

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns that Israel’s aggression against the occupied West Bank is part of the regime’s plan to annex the territory.

The UNRWA recently warned that Israel’s ongoing violent aggression against the West Bank appears to be part of the regime’s plan to annex the occupied territory.

Since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023, attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers have killed at least 930 Palestinians and injured nearly 7,000 in the occupied West Bank.

Last July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, demanding the evacuation of all illegal settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds.

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