No humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, says Israeli defence minister

Crisis grows with Israel applying pressure to secure release of hostages still held in Gaza

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JERUSALEM - Israel said on April 16 it would keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, where a relentless military offensive has turned the Palestinian territory into a "mass grave".

Air and ground attacks resumed across Gaza from March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas that had largely halted hostilities in the territory.

However, Israel has halted the entry of aid into Gaza since March 2, as the humanitarian crisis continues to grow amid ongoing military assaults which rescuers said killed at least 11 people on April 16.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would keep blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza.

"Israel's policy is clear: No humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population," Mr Katz said in a statement, amid a major humanitarian crisis following Israel's decision to prevent the entry of aid since March 2.

"No one is currently planning to allow any humanitarian aid into Gaza, and there are no preparations to enable such aid," Mr Katz said.