Gaza without electricity: Israel hardens measures after humanitarian aid lock

This Sunday, Israel’s Minister of Energy, Eli Cohen, announced the immediate suspension of the electricity supply to the Gaza Striphardening the measures against the Palestinian territory in the midst of tensions by the negotiations of Alto El Fuego and the release of hostages.

The measure occurs a week after Israel He decided to completely block humanitarian aid for Gaza, a region severely affected by the conflict, as part of his strategy to exert pressure on Hamas.

Through a video statement, Eli Cohen He confirmed to have signed the order to immediately suspend the electricity supply to Gaza.

“I just signed the order to stop supplying electricity immediately to the Gaza Strip”, The minister declared, stressing that Israel will use “all the tools at their disposal” to achieve the return of the hostages retained by Hamas and ensure that the group does not remain in the control of the enclave after the end of the war.

This action adds to the blockade of humanitarian aid imposed last week, when Israel stopped the entry of food, medicines and other essential resources to the Palestinian territory.

According to official sources, the objective is to force Hamas to accept new conditions in conversations on the extension of the current high fire agreement.

The veto at the entry of fuel and food not only threatens to paralyze the few operational hospitals in a gaza devastated by bombings, but also endangers the most vulnerable sectors: children, chronic patients and pregnant women.

How are negotiations?

The announcement occurs while delegations from Israel and Hamas participate in negotiations mediated by third parties.

A delegation of Hamas Last Friday arrived at Cairo to discuss the possibility of moving towards a second phase of the Alto El Fuego Agreement, which would include a permanent cessation of hostilities. However, Israel insists on prolonging the first phase of the covenant, focused on the exchange of hostages, without committing to end the war.

For his part, Israel accepted an invitation of mediators backed by the United States to send a delegation to Doha tomorrow, Monday, with the aim of advancing in the treatment.

An Israeli source cited by CNN He indicated that the country is “giving negotiations a chance” before resuming military operations in Gaza.

HamasMeanwhile, he has urged an “immediate” beginning of the conversations for the second phase of the agreement, a proposal that Israel rejects at the moment.

Dozens of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid were stranded at the doors of the Rafah border crossing, last Sunday, after Israel blocked their entry into the Gaza Strip.