Egypt condemned on Sunday Israel's decision to stop humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip as a "flagrant violation" of the truce agreement in its war with Hamas, which Cairo had helped broker.
A foreign ministry statement said that "Egypt condemns the decision issued by the Israeli government to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and to close the crossings used for humanitarian relief efforts."
Such measures "constitute a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement", the statement said.
It also accused Israel of using starvation as "a weapon against the Palestinian people".
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.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty earlier said there was "no alternative to the faithful and full implementation by all parties of what was signed last January".
He said progress was possible "if goodwill and political will are present".
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.
With AFP
Comments