The Hamas Movement has urged international mediators to take concrete and effective action to compel Israel to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, warning that continued Israeli restrictions are pushing Gaza deeper into a humanitarian catastrophe.

The appeal came in response to a joint statement issued by the United Nations and more than 200 international humanitarian organizations, which warned that Israeli measures are severely undermining life-saving aid operations across the Gaza Strip. The statement highlighted concerns that Israel may revoke the registration of dozens of international relief organizations, a move that could further cripple humanitarian efforts.

In a press statement, Hamas said the UN warning “underscores the danger of the occupation’s approach in deepening the humanitarian catastrophe,” stressing that Israel’s policies require urgent international intervention and the mobilization of all available resources to provide relief to Gaza’s population.

Hamas accused the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of systematically tightening the siege on Gaza and weaponizing humanitarian aid, in clear violation of international law and the ceasefire agreement. The Movement said that, according to UN and international organizations, these actions deprive civilians of their basic rights and form part of an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.

The Movement added that hundreds of Israeli field violations of the ceasefire—brokered under the sponsorship of US President Donald Trump—have resulted in the killing of hundreds of Palestinians, either through direct Israeli fire or due to the obstruction of humanitarian relief and the lack of adequate shelter for displaced civilians.

In a separate statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the deaths of children from extreme cold in Gaza, describing them as crimes resulting from Israel’s continued siege and its prevention of reconstruction. He said repeated appeals to allow genuine shelter solutions and begin reconstruction efforts have failed to prompt effective international action.

“Gaza’s children were killed by bombardment and are now dying from the cold,” Qassem said, urging the international community to act immediately to prevent further mass fatalities. He also called on the US administration and President Trump to exert pressure on Israel to honor the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefire agreement and to ensure that international relief organizations can operate freely in Gaza.

Earlier on Thursday, the Nasser Medical Complex announced the death of a child from severe cold in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, adding to a growing toll of children who have died in recent days due to harsh winter conditions.

Over the past week, two powerful winter storms have struck Gaza, killing at least 16 Palestinians and further worsening living conditions in a territory already devastated by Israel’s war. According to local authorities, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 171,000 wounded, and nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure destroyed.

Heavy rainfall has flooded around 53,000 tents that fail to meet minimum humanitarian safety standards, while border crossings remain closed and the entry of emergency shelter materials is blocked. Aid groups say the crisis has been exacerbated by Israel’s failure to comply with the ceasefire’s humanitarian protocol, particularly provisions related to shelters, tents, and mobile housing units. (ILKHA)