ISRAEL has closed all border crossings into Gaza.
The illegally occupied Palestinian territory – in which Israel is widely accused of committing genocide – will remain shut off “until further notice”, the Israeli government said.
A statement released through the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) claimed that the closure of the crossings would “not affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip”.
“The substantial quantities of food that have entered the Strip since the beginning of the ceasefire significantly exceed the nutritional needs of the population, according to UN methodologies,” COGAT said.
“COGAT will continue to maintain ongoing contact with the international community and will provide updates on any developments in accordance with the security situation assessment.”
Labour MP Melanie Ward, the former chief executive of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said: “Imagine the outcry there would (rightly) be if people spoke about the Israeli population having nothing to worry about because they had their ‘nutritional needs’ met.”
Ward has organised a letter, signed by some 140 Labour MPs, former ministers, and committee chairs, calling out UK Government inaction on Israel as “unacceptable” and demanding sanctions on illegal settlements in the West Bank and elsewhere.
The Israeli government claimed that the decision to close Gaza’s entry points was part of “a number of necessary security measures” brought in due to Iranian strikes on Israel.
Israel had launched attacks on Lebanon over the weekend in violation of a “ceasefire” agreement struck by the Americans in April. Iran and Israel then exchanged direct fire.
US president Donald Trump has said that “Israel and Iran must immediately stop 'shooting’” as the escalating conflict threatens to drag the Middle East back into a full-scale war.
On Monday, COGAT defended closing the crossings into Gaza, insisting that “contrary to the claims being made, Israel is not arbitrarily blocking the transfer of aid into Gaza”.
It went on: “We emphasize that the crossings will be reopened gradually, subject to an ongoing operational assessment and under security restrictions designed to ensure the safety of all personnel present at the crossings on both sides.
“COGAT will continue to facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, in accordance with its commitments and subject to the necessary security restrictions arising from the current security situation.”
Last Thursday, Israeli strikes in Gaza were reported to have killed at least 10 Palestinians. Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies, said the victims included two women and two children.
“They say the war has stopped, but the war has not stopped,” said Walid Shbeir, the uncle of one of the men killed in the strikes.
“Every night there is killing, and we have martyrs. Every night, in the morning, in the evening, and at night, this killing is continuous for us.”
