MSF warns of ‘devastating consequences’ of Israel halt of entry of aid into Gaza

Doctors without Borders (MSF) on Sunday said it “strongly denounces” the Israeli occupation government’s announcement to block aid into Gaza.

“Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war. Regardless of negotiations between warring parties, people in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies,” MSF said in a post on X.

“Israel is once again blocking an entire population from receiving aid, using it as a bargaining chip. This is unacceptable, outrageous, and will have devastating consequences,” says  head of MSF’s emergency programme Caroline Seguin.

“The news has created uncertainty and fear, causing food prices to spike.”

The rights group added that while the overall number of trucks that entered Gaza has increased since the ceasefire started on 19 January, restrictions by Israeli occupation authorities on critical supplies are hindering the humanitarian response.

“Most of the aid that entered was food and fuel, not nearly enough to meet the people’s immense needs,” it added.

“This is unacceptable, outrageous, and will have devastating consequences,” it warned.

BREAKING: MSF strongly denounces Israel’s announcement to block aid into Gaza.

Humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool of war. Regardless of negotiations between warring parties, people in Gaza still need an immediate and massive scale-up of humanitarian supplies.… pic.twitter.com/NhOWoRDbrU

— Doctors w/o Borders (@MSF_USA) March 2, 2025

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a complete halt to humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and the closure of all border crossings.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office read: “With the conclusion of the first phase of the hostage deal and Hamas’s rejection of the proposal — endorsed by Israel — for continued negotiations, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to halt all shipments of goods and supplies to Gaza as of this morning.”

Israel, with US backing, had suggested prolonging the first phase of the truce to allow for more Israeli captives to be released from Gaza without concessions from Israel or guarantees that it would not return to bombing Gaza. This proposal has been rejected by Hamas, which has repeated over the past few weeks that it is ready to begin negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, as per the terms of the initial agreement.

Netanyahu: We are ‘preparing for the next stages of the war’