Hamas on Monday considered Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich's statement that Tel Aviv would not allow "a single grain of wheat" into the Gaza Strip "an explicit declaration of a starvation policy against more than two million Palestinians in the Strip."

Hamas said in a statement that Smotrich's statement "represents an explicit declaration by the extremist occupation government to impose a policy of starvation on more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in a full-fledged war crime being committed before the eyes and ears of the world."

Commenting on a Hebrew press report claiming that the Israeli military was preparing to resume aid deliveries to Gaza even without a prisoner exchange agreement, Smotrich acknowledged earlier Monday that Tel Aviv was using starvation as a weapon against the Palestinians, asserting, "Not even a single grain of wheat will enter the Gaza Strip."

Hamas added in its statement, "This is accompanied by brutal crimes and behavior that reflect the official directions announced by the occupation government, the latest of which was the bombing of a food distribution center for displaced people in Khan Yunis, which resulted in the deaths of seven of them, in a new crime added to the series of massacres against innocent civilians."

She said, "This statement comes more than a month after the Gaza Strip was completely closed to all basic supplies, including food, water, medicine, fuel, and medical supplies, while the occupying army continues to commit daily massacres against defenseless civilians, whether in residential neighborhoods, tents, hospitals, or displacement centers."

On March 2, Israel closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to all vital supplies, preventing the entry of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid into the Strip. This has led to an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation, according to local government and human rights reports.

In its statement, Hamas called on the leaders of Arab and Islamic countries, the United Nations, and its agencies to "take serious steps to halt the starvation and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, activate international accountability mechanisms, and prosecute the criminal occupation leaders who openly commit blatant violations of international law day and night."

She stressed the need to heed the warnings of international humanitarian organizations, most notably the joint statement by six UN agencies, "which warned of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe facing the population of the Gaza Strip, who are facing bombardment and starvation, and emphasized the need to deliver humanitarian aid into the Strip immediately."

Earlier on Monday, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli military was preparing "within weeks" to resume allowing aid into Gaza even without a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas. This is due to fears that leaders could face legal action for genocide against Palestinians.

Smotrich commented: "If this is true, it is surprising that the Israeli army is speaking to us through the press, and not even a single grain of wheat will enter the Strip."

The Israeli occupation army responded to the report in a statement, saying that it "operates in accordance with the instructions of the political echelon," adding, "Israel does not and will not transfer any type of aid to Hamas."

In early March, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel concluded. The agreement, which took effect on January 19, 2025, was brokered by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the United States.

While Hamas has adhered to the terms of the first phase, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, has reneged on the start of the second phase in deference to extremists in his ruling coalition, according to Hebrew media.