Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs to the United Nations, on Monday held the Palestinian movement Hamas responsible for Israel’s imposition of a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, with no food, gas, or electricity supplies.
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said that he had ordered authorities to immediately cut the water supply to the Palestinian enclave.
Israel is dealing with the consequences of an ongoing invasion and is doing what it can to protect itself, Wood said when asked to comment on Tel Aviv’s decision to impose a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The international community must support Israel in what it is doing, the U.S. diplomat added.
The responsibility for the recent developments lies solely with Hamas, which has started an invasion, and needs to stop what it has been doing, Wood also said.
On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Israel, in response, invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country officially entered a state of war.
Both Israel and Palestine have so far reported hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation.
