The Israeli occupation forces continued to close the Kerem Shalom and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings today, Friday, for the thirteenth consecutive day.

As a result, the specter of famine has returned to the people of the Gaza Strip, due to the lack of all basic necessities in the markets.

The Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, decided last Saturday evening to close the border crossings and halt the flow of aid and goods into the Gaza Strip, claiming that Hamas had refused to extend the first phase of the agreement and to comply with a proposal by US envoy to the region, Steve Witkoff.

As a result of the Israeli decision, prices of basic goods and commodities in the Gaza Strip immediately soared, amid government and international warnings of a return to starvation among the population if the closure of the crossing remains in place.

Following the decision to close border crossings and halt the flow of goods, current and former Israeli officials launched incitement campaigns against the Gaza Strip and its residents. Most notable among these were statements by the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and former Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called for bombing warehouses containing goods and cutting off electricity and water supplies.