Israel Blocks Aid, Breaks CeasefireHamas accuses Israel of 47 ceasefire breaches and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian access.
If you believe journalism should serve the public, not the powerful, and you’re in a position to help, becoming a PAID SUBSCRIBER truly makes a difference. Alternatively you can support by way of a cup of coffee: This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://ko-fi.com/globalgeopolitics (Senior Hamasofficial, Mohammed Nazal, press statement in Qatar) The recent statement issued by the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, regarding the continued closure of the Rafah crossing by the Israeli government, constitutes a serious accusation of bad faith and wilful breach of agreed terms. According to Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to reopen the crossing is a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement and represents a calculated obstruction of commitments previously made to mediators and guarantor states. The consequences of this closure are neither abstract nor trivial. The movement of wounded and critically ill individuals is being blocked in both directions, and families are being denied the right to evacuate or return. The entry of equipment essential for locating those trapped beneath the rubble, as well as the tools required to recover, identify, and repatriate the bodies of the dead, is being deliberately withheld. This continued obstruction not only delays the humanitarian process of body retrieval and burial but exacerbates the already severe humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas further accuses the Israeli occupation forces of committing at least forty-seven breaches of the agreement since its signing. These breaches, according to their statement, have resulted in the deaths of thirty-eight individuals and the injury of at least one hundred and forty-three others. The group characterises these actions as part of a broader policy of siege and collective punishment directed at the more than two million Palestinians residing in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister, they assert, continues to invent spurious justifications in order to delay or completely avoid the implementation of the terms to which he had committed. Mohammad Nazzal, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, reinforced this position in a separate statement, wherein he placed the entire responsibility for the humanitarian crisis and the obstruction of technical recovery teams upon the Israeli authorities. He stated that Israel maintains complete control over the land, sea, and airspace surrounding Gaza, and it is therefore Israel that impedes the access of Turkish or other specialised teams who are ready to carry out the complex work of exhuming and identifying bodies, including those of deceased Israeli captives. Nazzal argued that such humanitarian efforts should not be used as bargaining tools in a political dispute. He added that Hamas has not refused to return the bodies of Israeli nationals but has indicated the genuine logistical and technical challenges preventing such an outcome at present. He also recalled that even former President Donald Trump had publicly acknowledged the difficulty and complexity of this issue, recognising that the process is neither straightforward nor immediate. The statements issued this week reflect not only a continued deterioration of conditions on the ground but also a growing sense of disillusionment with the mediation efforts that have so far failed to enforce basic humanitarian obligations. The continued siege of Gaza, coupled with the active prevention of life-saving aid and critical recovery operations, suggests a policy driven not by security considerations alone but by a strategic and systematic disregard for the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. The international community, particularly the guarantor states involved in brokering the ceasefire, now faces a clear test. Their credibility hinges not upon rhetorical gestures or expressions of concern, but upon their ability and willingness to enforce the agreements for which they stood as guarantors. Without immediate and decisive pressure on Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing and comply with the terms it agreed to, the process of humanitarian recovery will remain paralysed, and the ceasefire itself will retain no meaning beyond the paper on which it was written. Mohammed Nazal, further stated: “Hamas will not disarm. We will maintain control over Gaza’s security. This ceasefire is only a temporary ‘hudna’, a pause to rebuild our strength and regain some breathing room.” Authored By: Global GeoPolitics If you believe journalism should serve the public, not the powerful, and you’re in a position to help, becoming a PAID SUBSCRIBER truly makes a difference. 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