The UN and several Arab states condemned Israel on Monday for blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling its actions a violation of human rights and international law.

UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called Israel’s decision “alarming,” given that it reverses the progress made so far and breaches international humanitarian law. UN had previously also warned of worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

Egypt and Qatar, which helped mediate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza to allow the exchange of hostages and delivery of aid, also released statements criticizing Israel’s blockage. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that starvation of civilians must not be used as a weapon of war. Egypt also termed the blockage a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international law and religious principles.”

Further, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to hold Israel accountable and ensure sustainable delivery of aid into Gaza. Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Sufayan Qudah, while speaking to local media, expressed Jordan’s condemnation of Israel’s actions that can escalate the conflict and aggravate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

As also mentioned in several of these statements, Israel’s actions are against the principles set out in the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, that provides for humanitarian protections for civilians in war zones. In particular, Article 23 of the convention obligates all state parties to allow the free passage of medical supplies, food and clothing.

Israel blocked the entry of aid delivery shipments into Gaza on Sunday, a day after the first phase of a ceasefire deal struck with Gaza in January 2025 ended. The ceasefire helped put a pause on 15 months of fighting, and led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages and 19,000 Palestinian detainees. Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire deal are yet to properly begin.