Kenya condemns Gaza blockade as aid remains withheld

By Daisy Okiring

Over 100 Palestinians were killed on Thursday in a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, as international pressure—including condemnation from Kenya—mounts for the restoration of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

Palestinian civil defence officials said at least 103 people were killed in bombings since dawn, including heavy casualties in Jabalia and Deir al-Balah. Israeli military operations resumed on March 18 after the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire, and aid has been completely blocked since March 2.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, declared that allowing humanitarian aid into the enclave is “the minimum requirement” to resume talks. Senior official Basem Naim emphasized that access to essentials like food, water, and medicine is a fundamental human right, not a bargaining chip. “Gaza is not for sale,” he said, responding to renewed suggestions by former U.S. President Donald Trump for America to “take over” Gaza and transform it into a “freedom zone.”

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The blockade has drawn sharp criticism from international actors, including Kenya. Government officials in Nairobi expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation and echoed calls by the United Nations and human rights groups for unrestricted aid delivery.

Human Rights Watch warned that Israel’s aid blockade has crossed from military strategy into what it termed “a tool of extermination.” The United Nations also refused to partner with a U.S.-backed NGO that plans to distribute aid, citing violations of neutrality and independence.

In parallel, violence has surged in the occupied West Bank. Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops in Tammun during raids following the murder of a pregnant Israeli woman, an act Israel blamed on militant elements in the territory.

The Palestinian death toll since March now exceeds 2,800, with over 53,000 casualties since the war began in October 2023. Hostilities were triggered by a Hamas-led attack that left 1,218 dead in Israel and saw 251 hostages taken, with 57 still believed to be in Gaza.

As tensions rise, global actors—including Kenya—continue to urge a humanitarian corridor into Gaza and a return to diplomatic negotiations.