Israel halts all aid entry to Gaza in violation of ceasefire deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday announced the freezing of all aid going into Gaza in a major violation of the ceasefire deal. The first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on 19 January, officially ended at midnight on Saturday. However, Israel has not agreed to move forward to the second phase of the deal to bring an end to the war in Gaza. Gaza’s government media office warned that the Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid constitutes 'genocide by starvation.'