Deaths, breaking news, news from Gaza and more

Cutting off electricity, water, fuel and food supplies to 2 million people in Gaza is a “violation of the most basic human rights,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this Friday.

“Collectively punishing the people of Gaza will make the problem bigger, cause more pain, more tension and more tears,” Erdogan told an economic forum in Istanbul. “Cutting off electricity, water, fuel and food to the 2 million people squeezed into the 360 ​​square kilometer (about 140 square miles) area is the most basic thing.” It is a violation of human rights.”

A humanitarian aid plane landed at El Arishin Egyptian International Airport this morning with medicines, non-perishable food, canned food, diapers and medical supplies for the region, the Turkish president said.

Erdogan asked the Israeli government to allow aid to pass through the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza.

Some background: Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt have imposed a strict blockade on Gaza. Israel strictly controls the flow of goods and people into and out of Gaza, and maintains an air and naval blockade of the area.

Human Rights Watch has described Gaza as an “open prison”. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, and nearly 80% are dependent on humanitarian assistance.

This week, Israel has taken even tougher measures, cutting off access to food, fuel, water and electricity, in what it described as a “total blockade” in response to last week’s devastating Hamas attack.