Israel to cut off electricity supply to Gaza, minister says

The Israeli government ordered a complete halt to electricity supply to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, aiming to pressure Hamas to release the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. This decision by Energy Minister Eli Cohen came a week after Israel had already stopped providing all aid supplies to the Gaza Strip, a region with a population exceeding two million.

In a video statement on Sunday, Cohen said, "We will use every means at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas no longer controls Gaza after the war." This move is expected to primarily affect the operation of desalination plants, which are crucial for providing clean drinking water. The Israeli government has stated that it has not ruled out cutting off the water supply as well.

Cohen stated in the announcement: "I have just signed an order to immediately stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip." Israel had previously cut off most of the main power supply to the Gaza Strip. Talks are expected to resume in Qatar on Monday to extend the fragile ceasefire agreement, the first phase of which ended on March 1st.

Israel hopes Hamas will agree to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but Hamas wants to begin negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of the remaining hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a permanent end to the war. It is believed that Hamas is holding 24 living hostages and the remains of 35 deceased hostages. The organization has warned that cutting off supplies to Gaza will affect the hostages.

The coastal Gaza area and its infrastructure have suffered severe damage in the war, with generators and solar panels being used for partial electricity supply. The UN Human Rights Office stated on Friday: "Any denial of essential supplies to civilians could constitute collective punishment." Hamas has reiterated its support for the proposal to establish an independent committee of technocrats to administer Gaza until Palestinians hold presidential and legislative elections. The committee would operate within the framework of the Palestinian Authority (PA) located in the occupied West Bank. Israel rejects any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza but has not proposed an alternative for post-war governance.

Hamas's attacks in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, most of whom were civilians, and 251 people were taken hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire deals or other arrangements. According to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel's military offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of whom were women and children, although the ministry does not specify how many of the dead were militants.