The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) cutoff of aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive week- the longest period in the 17 months of genocide.1 PCHR warns of the devastating effects on the most vulnerable groups, including women, children and patients, as food and medical supplies are running out amid IOF’s relentless military attacks, destruction of houses on top of their residents, and evacuation orders. PCHR denounces the Israeli supreme court’s decision upholding the continued cutoff of relief supplies into the Gaza Strip.2 This decision reaffirms that the supreme court and judiciary in Israel cover up the international crimes committed by Israel, which is an integral part of a settler colonial regime that perpetrates genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid against the Palestinian people.
Israel’s decision to block entry of humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip has inflicted massive consequences on vital sectors as the World Food Programme WFP is racing to provide life-saving aid with dwindling stocks. WFP has less than 5,700 mt of stocks in Gaza, only sufficient for two weeks.3 The total blockade has caused severe food shortages and soaring prices, with some essentials rising by over 700 percent. Bread demand has surged amid wheat flour shortages and limited cooking gas, while cash scarcity has left many unable to afford remaining goods.4
According to our staff and tens of testimonies they collected, Famine is looming, and people are using new mechanisms to cope with food scarcity and depletion from markets. Meat and fruit of all kinds have run out in markets while the remaining vegetables and scarce foodstuff have raised many times of their normal price amid no income and surging unemployment. Most of the Gaza population relies on charity kitchens which distribute free meals for displaced families in shelters. Following the closure of the crossing, these meals only consist of either rice, pasta, legumes or canned food, which started to run out.
With the ongoing closure of crossings, efforts to treat children’s malnutrition has been undermined as more than 92% of the children aged 6 to 23 months and pregnant and breastfeeding women do not meet their basic nutritional needs due to the shortage of minimum dietary diversity. Around 290,000 children under 5 years old and 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women need nutrition and micronutrient supplements. and micronutrient supplements. Meanwhile, 16,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are estimated to require treatment for acute malnutrition and more than 60,000 children are estimated to require treatment for acute malnutrition in 2025.5
Moreover, closure of crossings has blocked the entry of more than 180,000 doses of essential childhood routine vaccines, enough to fully vaccinate and protect 60,000 children under 2 years of age, as well as 20 lifesaving ventilators for neonatal intensive care units.6
PCHR recalls the three provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the South Africa Vs. Israel case, accusing the later of violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. On 26 January 2024,7 ICJ ordered
Israel, “to take all measures within its power to allow the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip,” however, Israel disregarded this decision, though it is binding, and continued to prevent and restrict aid deliveries. ICJ also highlighted the deterioration of life conditions for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip due to prolonged and widescale deprivation of food and other life essentials. In March 2024,8 ICJ issued new provisional measures ordering Israel to ensure, without delay, the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter and clothing. On 25 May 2024,9 ICJ called on Israel, “to maintain open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance.” This has been defied by Israel as it has closed the crossing since then.
PCHR recalls the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court’s decision regarding issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that both Ministers bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others.10
PCHR reiterates it is extremely shameful for the international community to watch IOF committing violations against civilians in the Gaza Strip, including war crimes and crimes against humanity as stipulated in ICC’s Rome Statute, amid Israel’s clear intent to go on with its genocide. The international remains silent and fails to take any decisive action to compel Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and allow flow of relief supplies indispensable for the survival of 2,4 million Palestinians; half of them are children.
[…] PCHR emphasized that Israel’s deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war amid the Israeli Supreme Court’s coverup constitutes a war crime under Rome Statute, reflects perpetuation of genocide, and violates all international norms and conventions. PCHR recalls the three provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel “to take all measures within its power to allow the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.” PCHR also recalls the Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court’s decision regarding issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for committing war crimes, including use of starvation as a method of warfare. […]