Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza. The full effects of that are not immediately clear, but the territory’s desalination plants receive power for producing drinking water.
Sunday’s announcement comes a week after Israel cut off all supplies of goods to the territory to over 2 million people. It has sought to press Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire. That phase ended last weekend. Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce.
Hamas has pressed to start negotiations on the ceasefire’s more difficult second phase instead, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others.
I’m surprised that the Palestinians, who have been mortal enemies of the Israelis for millennia, depend on Israel for electricity with no back up plan. And I’m surprised that anyone thinks Israel is obligated to provide that for them. I get that innocent people will die, and that’s a tragedy. I don’t think it’s good for Israel to cut off electricity. But Gaza knew that they depend on Israel for vital services before they attacked Israel. So Gaza really brought this tragedy on themselves. Fuck around, find out.
Israel doesn’t allow Palestinians to have their own electrical grid or potable water service. Israel controls everything in the West Bank and Gaza.
They don’t let them have an airport either. They bombed it even before the 7th oct.