Hamas spokesperson Abd al-Latif al-Qanou said that the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip is a crime against humanity against the Palestinian people and a disgrace to the international community that adopts double standards in global issues.

In a speech delivered at an international conference entitled “16 Years of Siege on Gaza: Impacts and Prospects", al-Qanou added that “our people will not accept the continued aggressive policy towards the Gaza Strip,” stressing that the continuation of the siege is a form of aggression against Palestinians and a threat to the being of 2.5 million Palestinians.

The Hamas spokesperson held the Israeli occupation accountable for the repercussions and future consequences of the prolonged siege and aggression against the Palestinian people.

Calling for widespread support for the Palestinian people, al-Qanou called on the international community and the free people of the world to double their efforts and shoulder responsibility to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation to lift the siege on Gaza.