GAZA CITY, Palestine

An Israeli far-right group vowed Thursday to continue to block aid deliveries into the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the "Tzav 9" movement said it would not allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave until the return of Israelis held captive by Hamas.

“We will return next week to prevent aid trucks from reaching Hamas,” the right-wing group said.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the group will halt its protests until further notice following violent attacks on aid trucks on their way to the Gaza Strip.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip last October, leaving the territory’s entire population on the verge of starvation.

The siege is part of a deadly offensive launched by Tel Aviv on the Palestinian enclave following a Hamas attack that killed nearly 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2024.

More than 35,270 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, mostly women and children, and over 79,200 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Hamas, which is believed to be holding nearly 130 Israeli hostages, demands an end to Israel’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip in return for any hostage swap with Tel Aviv.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara