Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) has cut off power to the last remaining facility in the Gaza Strip that was still receiving energy from Israel.
CNN reported on March 9th that Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said he had just signed an order to immediately stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that all possible measures would be used to ensure the release of all hostages held in Gaza. An IEC spokesperson confirmed that the directive to stop selling electricity to power plants in Gaza had been issued and the corporation had complied.
Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq condemned Israel's actions. "This is a desperate attempt to pressure the people through cheap and unacceptable blackmail tactics," al-Rishq said. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the power cuts would have little impact because Israel had already cut off electricity to Gaza for a long time.
Palestinians sit around a bonfire in the city of Jalalia, Gaza, on January 22.
Israel cut off electricity to Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, but the IEC later restored power to a wastewater treatment facility at the direction of the government , CNN reported. For more than a year, people in Gaza have relied primarily on generators and solar power.
Israel's move comes as Israel and Hamas have yet to agree on the next steps in the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Israel wants to continue with phase 1 of the agreement, which would involve hostage exchanges and aid shipments to Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas wants to discuss phase 2, which includes provisions to end the Gaza conflict.
Israel announced on March 2nd that it would block all humanitarian aid to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into extending the ceasefire. According to The Times of Israel , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that he would not rule out cutting off electricity to Gaza if Hamas did not make concessions in negotiations. Mediating countries, including the United States, have worked to reconcile the two sides. On March 9th, Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump's special envoy on Gaza hostages, expressed optimism that Israel and Hamas would reach an agreement.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/israel-cat-dien-hoan-toan-tai-gaza-185250310070932258.htm
Comment (0)