Saudi Arabia says Israel halting Gaza aid is ‘collective punishment’

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday Israel’s decision to block aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip, dubbing it “blackmail” as talks to extend a fragile truce in the war appeared at an impasse.

The Israeli decision “to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and its use as a tool of blackmail and collective punishment… is a flagrant violation of international law and a direct violation of the rules of international humanitarian law,” said a foreign ministry statement cited by the official Saudi Press Agency, also urging the international community to “stop these serious Israeli violations.”

Announcing early on Sunday it was halting the entry of all goods and supplies into Gaza, Israel warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas did not agree to extend the first phase of the ceasefire.

Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of seeking to undermine the truce, which went into effect on January 19 and has largely held despite mutual accusations of violations and no agreement on its next phases.

Egypt also condemned Israel’s decision to stop humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, denouncing it as a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire, which Cairo had helped broker.

Egypt is set to host a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Monday, ahead of a Tuesday summit where Arab leaders are due to discuss a reconstruction plan for Gaza.