JERUSALEM — Israel announced Sunday that it will discontinue its electricity supply to Gaza. While the full consequences remain to be seen, this move impacts desalination plants crucial for producing drinking water in the region. Hamas has condemned the decision, calling it a “starvation policy” implemented by Israel.
Earlier last week, Israel halted the entry of goods into Gaza, a territory housing over 2 million Palestinians. This action mirrors the siege imposed at the start of the conflict with Hamas. Israel is currently urging Hamas to agree to extend the initial phase of the ongoing ceasefire, which concluded last weekend. Israel’s condition is the release of half of the remaining hostages in exchange for a commitment to negotiate a long-term truce.
However, Hamas is prioritizing negotiations for the more complex second phase of the ceasefire. This phase involves the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the establishment of a lasting peace. It is believed that Hamas still holds 24 living hostages and the remains of 35 others.
Hamas, which previously warned that cutting off supplies would endanger the hostages, stated on Sunday that the latest round of ceasefire talks with Egyptian mediators concluded without any change to its position, insisting on an immediate commencement of the ceasefire’s second phase.
Conversely, Israel has stated its intention to send a delegation to Qatar on Monday “in an effort to advance the negotiations.”
Israel previously cautioned that water and electricity supplies could be next after halting all other supplies. A letter from Israel’s energy minister to the Israel Electric Corporation instructs the company to cease selling electricity to Gaza.
Gaza’s infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with most facilities, including hospitals, now relying on generators. The electricity cutoff could disrupt water pumps and sanitation systems. A spokesperson for the Israel Electric Corporation indicated that, to their knowledge, only a wastewater treatment plant has been affected by the cutoff.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassam denounced the move as a “starvation policy” by Israel, a “clear disregard for all international laws and norms.” He further stated that Israel has “practically” cut off electricity since the beginning of the war.
Israel has faced considerable criticism for cutting off supplies to Gaza. The United Nations human rights office stated on Friday that “Any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) previously stated there was reason to believe Israel had used “starvation as a method of warfare” when issuing an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year. This allegation is a central point in South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel has refuted these accusations, asserting that it has allowed sufficient aid into Gaza and blaming shortages on the U.N.’s inability to effectively distribute it. It has also accused Hamas of diverting aid for its own purposes.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, warned on Friday that attacks against Israel-linked vessels off the coast of Yemen would resume within four days if aid to Gaza does not resume. The Houthis have described their previous attacks as a show of solidarity with Palestinians.
The ceasefire has provided a pause in the most intense and destructive fighting between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The first phase of the ceasefire resulted in the return of 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the release of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces have retreated to buffer zones inside Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have returned to northern Gaza for the first time since the early stages of the war. Additionally, hundreds of trucks carrying aid entered Gaza daily until Israel suspended supplies.
U.S. envoy describes talks with Hamas
The White House unexpectedly confirmed on Wednesday that direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas had taken place.
On Sunday, envoy Adam Boehler told Israeli broadcaster Kan that Hamas has proposed a truce lasting five to ten years, during which they would disarm. The militant group has previously deemed disarming unacceptable.
Boehler told CNN that “I think you could see something like a long-term truce, where we forgive prisoners, where Hamas lays down their arms, where they agree they’re not part of the political party going forward. I think that’s a reality. It’s real close.”
When asked if he would speak with the militant group again, Boehler replied, “You never know.”
He added: “I think something could come together within weeks,” and expressed hope for a deal that would see all hostages released, not only American ones. Boehler has said four of the five American hostages in Gaza are dead, with Edan Alexander alive.
Hamas did not mention these talks on Sunday but reiterated its support for a proposal to establish an independent committee of technocrats to govern Gaza until Palestinians hold presidential and legislative elections.
The Hamas attack in October 2023 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, inside Israel, and the taking of 251 hostages. The majority of these hostages have been released through ceasefire agreements or other arrangements.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of whom were women and children. The ministry does not specify how many of the deceased were militants.
With the cutoff of supplies to Gaza, Palestinians are reporting sharp price increases for dwindling items during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“Since the ceasefire began, the situation has improved a little. But before that, the situation was very bad,” said Fares al-Qeisi in the southern city of Khan Younis. “I swear to God, one could not satisfy their hunger.”
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