Gaza Aid Halt: Who's Really to Blame?

Gaza's aid halt is a hot topic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a halt on goods and supplies to Gaza. This decision came after Hamas rejected a ceasefire deal proposed by U. S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. This deal was meant to continue hostage talks, which Israel had already agreed to. The usual suspects, politicians, pundits, and armchair lawyers, quickly accused Israel of committing a war crime by halting aid. The claim of a war crime is a stretch. International law is clear: Israel isn't obligated to provide aid to an enemy during war. It's a double standard, really. During WWII, no one expected Churchill or Roosevelt to provide aid to Nazi Germany. The law allows blockades, a military tactic, as long as they don't intentionally starve civilians. Article 23 of the 4th Geneva Convention outlines the rules. Israel must allow humanitarian supplies, but only if there's no evidence of diversion or misuse. The U. S. and UK military manuals back this up. Hamas has a history of stealing aid for military purposes. The New York Times, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN have reported this for years. Even Hamas has admitted it. So, the claim that Israel is starving Gaza's civilians is false. Israel has provided extensive aid, even under the challenge of Hamas's theft. Since January 19, over 25, 000 trucks have entered Gaza, carrying 57, 000 tons of food. This is more than pre-war levels. Israel's actions are justified under international law. The accusation that Israel is starving civilians is a distortion of the truth. The real goal is to compel Hamas to surrender. Those who want aid to resume should pressure Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal and release hostages. The focus should be on Hamas, not Israel.