Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a development that signals a hardening of Israeli policy towards the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an indefinite halt to the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave, according to Israeli media reports.
Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, reported late Sunday that Netanyahu directed the immediate suspension of all humanitarian assistance to Gaza “until further notice.” Channel 12, a prominent Israeli news outlet, confirmed that the country’s political leadership has endorsed a recommendation from the Israeli military to freeze the delivery of aid.
A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that the political leadership has also decided to shut down all border crossings into the Gaza Strip. This includes the key Rafah crossing, which lies on the southern border between Gaza and Egypt.
On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office announced that Rafah crossing would remain closed indefinitely, in what critics say is a breach of the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The Prime Minister’s Office published a statement via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reiterating that the crossing would stay shut “until further notice.”
The statement added that the possibility of reopening Rafah would depend on Hamas fulfilling its commitments under the ceasefire terms, including the return of the remains of Israeli captives and adherence to other provisions of the agreement.
The Rafah crossing had been scheduled to reopen last Wednesday as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10. However, this decision by Netanyahu stands in contrast to earlier expectations voiced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who stated on Thursday that the crossing was likely to open at the beginning of the week.
The current impasse follows a fragile truce reached between Hamas and Israel on October 9, brokered under a framework reportedly proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The agreement included a ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners, and was intended to bring an end to a devastating conflict that has stretched over two years.
The war, which began on October 8, 2023, left a catastrophic toll on the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 68,000 people were killed and over 170,000 wounded. The prolonged military campaign also led to the destruction of approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Netanyahu’s decision to halt aid and keep the crossings sealed is likely to intensify international scrutiny, as Gaza’s population already suffering from widespread displacement, lack of medical supplies, and food shortages faces further deterioration of living conditions. The move may also cast doubt on the durability of the recent ceasefire, which was seen by many as a fragile but necessary step toward de-escalation.
Humanitarian organizations have warned that any interruption in the flow of aid could have severe consequences for Gaza’s civilian population. The United Nations and other international bodies have repeatedly stressed the importance of ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access to the enclave.
With the Rafah crossing remaining closed and aid deliveries frozen, the humanitarian situation in Gaza hangs in the balance, even as diplomatic efforts continue behind closed doors to uphold the truce and prevent a relapse into full-scale conflict.
