Israel Resumes Policy of Collective Punishment: Violations of International Humanitarian Law and the Genocide Convention

In another act of collective punishment upon the people of Gaza, the Israeli government announced on March 2nd, 2025 that it will resume the blockage of all aid into the Gaza Strip. The decision came as the first phase of the ceasefire expired—Israel refused to proceed with the second phase of the ceasefire, which called for full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Instead, Israel suggested a US-drafted plan to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, a delay tactic which was not outlined in the original ceasefire agreement and indeed, ran contra to the agreement. The already fragile and continuously breached ceasefire agreement was once again violated by Israel. Israel's refusal to begin negotiations on the second phase was largely tied to its refusal allow mobile homes into Gaza despite the responsibility to do so under the agreement. This denial has left infants exposed to harsh winter conditions without shelter, ultimately resulting in the deaths of seven Gazan infants so far. ​

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