Israel Cuts Electricity Supply to Gaza in Humanitarian Shocker

Israel announced on Sunday that it is terminating its electricity supply to Gaza, a move that could severely impact the territory’s already strained infrastructure. The full consequences remain uncertain, but Gaza’s desalination plants, critical for producing drinking water, rely heavily on this power. The decision follows Israel’s suspension of all goods to the territory last week, intensifying pressure on Hamas to extend the initial phase of a fragile ceasefire that expired last weekend.

Israel’s latest measure targets Hamas, which it accuses of stalling negotiations. Under the first ceasefire phase, Israel seeks the release of half the remaining hostages in exchange for talks on a permanent truce. That phase, concluded recently, saw 25 living hostages and the remains of eight others returned, while nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed. However, Hamas insists on immediately advancing to the ceasefire’s second, more complex phase. On Sunday, the group concluded talks with Egyptian mediators, reiterating its unchanged stance and demanding an urgent start to phase two.

Israel’s Energy Minister issued a directive to the Israel Electric Corporation to halt power sales to Gaza, exacerbating the territory’s reliance on limited generators and solar panels. Gaza, home to over 2 million people, has been ravaged by a war sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel—the deadliest clash in their history. The ceasefire briefly paused the violence, enabling Israeli forces to retreat to buffer zones, displaced Palestinians to return north, and aid trucks to deliver supplies—until Israel’s recent cutoff.

The electricity suspension deepens Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with desalination and other essential services at risk. As both sides dig in, the prospects for a lasting truce remain elusive, leaving millions caught in the crossfire of political and military brinkmanship.