Israel has officially cut off its electricity supply to Gaza, further straining the besieged territory as its desalination plants rely on power for drinking water production.
This move follows Israel’s decision last week to halt all goods entering Gaza, affecting over two million residents. Israel aims to pressure Hamas into extending the first phase of the ceasefire, which ended last weekend. The Israeli government seeks the release of half the remaining hostages in exchange for negotiations on a permanent truce.
Hamas, however, insists on initiating talks for the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes the release of all hostages, Israeli troop withdrawal, and a long-term peace agreement. Reports suggest Hamas holds 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others. The group announced Sunday that it concluded the latest ceasefire discussions with Egyptian mediators but maintained its position, demanding immediate negotiations on the second phase.
On Sunday, Israel also blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza, escalating the standoff over the truce. Hamas has called for intervention from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. A letter from Israel’s energy minister instructed the Israel Electric Corporation to halt electricity sales to Gaza, fulfilling prior warnings that both water and electricity supplies could be severed.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza, leaving it reliant on generators and solar panels for limited power. The ceasefire had previously paused hostilities that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. The first ceasefire phase saw 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli forces have since withdrawn to buffer zones, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza and enabling daily aid deliveries—until Israel suspended supplies. Meanwhile, direct U.S.-Hamas negotiations were confirmed by the White House, with envoy Adam Boehler expressing optimism about a possible long-term truce and the full release of hostages.
Hamas reiterated support for an independent technocratic committee to govern Gaza under the Palestinian Authority (PA) until elections are held. Israel has rejected any PA role but has not proposed an alternative postwar governance plan.
Israel’s military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. With all supplies now cut off, Palestinians are reporting rising prices and worsening shortages, fueling renewed fears over the humanitarian crisis.
Source: Swifteradio.com
