Israel cuts off electricity supply to Gaza as new truce talks set to resume

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen has ordered an immediate halt to the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip, a move that threatens the operation of desalination plants in the region, at a time when aid supplies are severely lacking. Cohen posted on social media platform X that he had signed an order to "immediately cut off the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip," adding, "It is not enough to talk, it is time to act!" This decision underscores the escalating tensions and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

This announcement comes more than a week after Israel stopped supplying all goods to the Gaza Strip. This followed Israel's unilateral tearing up of a ceasefire agreement that ended a 15-month war in Gaza, impacting the lives of over 2 million residents. Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed and large swathes of Gaza have been reduced to rubble under relentless Israeli bombardment. The international community has expressed growing concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

Currently, Israel hopes to extend the first phase of the three-stage agreement, while Hamas wants the agreement to move to the second phase, as originally agreed by both parties. Analysts point out that Israel's refusal to enter the second phase indicates its unwillingness to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, the narrow strip of land separating Gaza from Egypt. This disagreement is hindering progress towards a long-term resolution of the conflict.

Hamas has accused Israel of "despicable and unacceptable blackmail" for deciding to stop supplying electricity to the war-torn Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure the group to release the detainees. Hamas political bureau member Ezzat al-Rishq said in a statement: "We strongly condemn the occupier's decision to cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, after they had already deprived it of food, medicine and water." He added that it was a "desperate attempt to put pressure on our people and their resistance through despicable and unacceptable blackmail." This highlights the deep distrust and animosity between the two sides.

Aid organizations and human rights activists have accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity and violating international humanitarian law by cutting off aid supplies. Gazans are struggling to obtain bread and basic supplies as Israel's total blockade has forced several bakeries and shops to close. Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary reported from Gaza City that despite the end of the devastating airstrikes on Gaza, civilians are still suffering due to the Israeli blockade that has lasted more than a week. The lack of essential resources is pushing the population to the brink of starvation and disease.

Khoudary said: "Many Palestinians cannot afford to buy these products, and most of the population in Gaza currently depends on food aid." She added: "Food, water and electricity, every aspect of Palestinian life is affected by Israeli actions." She also said that the situation on the ground remains "catastrophic." Hamas has repeatedly called for the immediate start of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas sources said on Sunday that its delegation had left for Doha, Qatar, after talks in Cairo, Egypt. The ongoing diplomatic efforts are crucial to alleviating the suffering of the Gazan people.

Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from Khan Younis that Hamas representatives held meetings with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the possibility of implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. Azzoum added: "Hamas issued a statement agreeing to form an independent committee of technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip and reiterated its call for humanitarian aid to enter." He also said that the group also called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the region as part of any future agreement. These developments indicate a potential pathway towards a more stable and sustainable future for Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it would send a delegation to Doha on Monday. According to Al Jazeera reporters, two Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza earlier on Sunday, and a new round of ceasefire talks will resume in Doha on Monday. The resumption of negotiations offers a glimmer of hope for de-escalation and a potential end to the conflict.

The attack in Gaza City's Shuja'iyya neighborhood on Sunday also injured several people, with doctors at Ahli Arab Hospital saying some of the injured were in critical condition. The Israeli military said its airstrike targeted "armed men who were found operating near [Israeli] forces and attempting to plant explosives on the ground in northern Gaza." These incidents highlight the ongoing violence and the fragility of the current ceasefire.

Al Jazeera reporter Khoudary said Israel has been violating the ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. She said: "According to official sources, at least 116 Palestinians have been killed and at least 490 injured since the start of the ceasefire in Gaza." "That is why Palestinians are waiting for the second phase of the ceasefire, when all Israeli soldiers should withdraw from all areas of the Gaza Strip." The implementation of the second phase is seen as crucial for achieving a lasting peace.

The six-week first phase saw the release of 25 living Israeli hostages and eight bodies in exchange for approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. In the second phase, Hamas is expected to release all remaining living hostages, mainly male soldiers, in exchange for the release of more Palestinians held in the Israeli prison system. In addition, according to the agreement reached in January, Israel will initiate a "complete withdrawal" from Gaza. The prisoner exchange and withdrawal are key components of the overall agreement.

The third phase will see the handover of the bodies of the remaining hostages in exchange for a three-to-five-year Gaza reconstruction plan under international supervision. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Adam Boehler told NBC News that direct meetings between the U.S. and Hamas in Doha on the release of Gaza hostages were "very helpful." Boehler said he believed "some progress could be made on Gaza in a few weeks," but he did not elaborate. International involvement is considered essential for the successful reconstruction of Gaza.

Trump had previously proposed a widely condemned plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, prompting Arab leaders to propose alternative solutions. Their proposal is to fund the reconstruction of Gaza through a trust fund and allow the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah to return to administer the area. "We need more discussion on this, but it is a good-faith first step," Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters in Washington, responding to the Arab plan. Witkoff will return to the region this week, traveling to Saudi Arabia for talks on the war in Ukraine. The need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Gaza crisis is becoming increasingly urgent.

Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages are demanding that the government fully implement the ceasefire agreement. "The war could resume in a week," Eynav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, told a crowd in Tel Aviv. "War will not bring the hostages home; it will kill them." The families' plea underscores the immense pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages.

Yoni Ben Menachem, an analyst based in West Jerusalem, said Israel's return to ceasefire talks was a "real decision" by the government because it wanted to ensure the release of the remaining hostages. However, the "military option" remains on the table, which could be decided at an Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday evening. Hamas said it was ready to relinquish its governance role in Gaza but refused to lay down its arms. The potential for renewed conflict remains a significant concern.

Meanwhile, Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank continue. According to local media reports, Israeli tanks entered the village of Wadi Burqin and its surrounding areas on Sunday. Days after the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel began sustained operations in Jenin, Tulkarem and other areas, killing dozens, destroying hundreds of homes and displacing more than 40,000 people. The ongoing violence in the West Bank further complicates the already precarious situation in the region.