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Blame Hamas for Israel Halting Aid to Gaza

(Newsweek) Arsen Ostrovsky and Mark Goldfeder - On March 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel would halt the entry of all goods and supplies to Gaza. This decision came after Hamas rejected a framework proposed by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff intended to continue the hostage-ceasefire talks. Critics soon started accusing Israel of the war crime of starvation, with vague references to "international law." For the record, international law is very clear: Israel is not obligated to provide aid that will be used by an enemy in time of war, and anyone who argues differently is either illiterate or willfully ignorant. Britain and the U.S. were not expected to provide aid to Nazi Germany during WWII. Blockades are a lawful military tactic in the course of war. Article 23 of the 4th Geneva Convention is very explicit in allowing the free passage of humanitarian supplies only if there are no serious reasons to believe these supplies are being diverted from their destination or used for military purposes. Both the U.S. Defense Department Law of War Manual and the UK Joint Service Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict mirror Article 23. There has been indisputable and overwhelming evidence that Hamas systematically steals the aid, and uses it to advance their military goals. The New York Times, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN have reported on this for years. Israel's actions in halting aid are entirely just and legitimate under international law. Those who seek a resumption of further aid into Gaza would be well advised to direct their outrage and pressure toward Hamas. Arsen Ostrovsky is a human rights attorney and CEO of the International Legal Forum. Mark Goldfeder is a law professor and CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center.
2025-03-13 00:00:00
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