The IOF continue their offensive on the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) by tightening the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and launching a war of starvation against Palestinian children, elderly and patients; Palestinian markets have depleted basic alimentary goods such as bread after Palestinian mills have run out of wheat and flour.
According to Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, basic alimentary goods are gradually disappearing from markets and food prices have increased; 60 kg of flour now costs NIS140 instead of NIS80, and 50kg of sugar has risen from NIS80 to NIS160.
Flour is becoming scarce and quantities of bread are not meeting customer needs.
Based on Al Mezan field reports, markets have run out of children's medicines, in particular antibiotics and suppositories, in addition to medication for heart problems and rheumatism.
The closure of Karni crossing is having severely negative impacts on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip; economic sectors are being entirely paralyzed and construction projects suspended due to lack of basic construction materials such as iron and concrete, sewage pipes and other essential materials for the reconstruction and paving of roads demolished by the IOF.
Furthermore, Palestinian farmers are suffering great economic losses due to the closure and the damage of vegetables and flowers which were to be exported.
Al Mezan condemns this unjustifiable starvation war led by the IOF, and questions the silence of the international community vis-à-vis the ongoing Israeli offensive.
The tight siege by the IOF takes place in parallel with the Israeli military invasion of Jericho prison, the kidnapping of Ahmad Saadat and Major General Al Shobaki, and the humiliation of security officials in Jericho; in addition, there have been further incursions into West Bank cities such as Jenin, air strikes on the north and south of the Gaza Strip, excessive use of lethal force, and assassinations.
Al Mezan believes that the ongoing Israeli offensive, intensified Israeli military aggression, construction of the Wall and the tightening of the siege indicate Israel's disregard of its duties and commitments with respect to international law.
These practices are in violation of international law, most notably the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.
Thus, Al Mezan calls upon the international community to undertake its legal and ethical responsibilities and immediately intervene to halt war crimes committed by the IOF, mainly the economic siege imposed on the Gaza Strip which threatens a human calamity due to the lack of food and medication.
Furthermore, Al Mezan urges for an end to all Israeli procedures aimed at starving Palestinians and decreasing their living standards, and hence reinforcing poverty and unemployment within Palestinian society.
The international community must work seriously to compel Israel to abide by international law in dealing with civilians as an introductory phase to end its occupation of the OPT.
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