Israel reduces electricity to Gaza, raising the pressure on Hamas

Energy Minister Eli Cohen signed an order on Sunday to immediately stop the electricity provided to the Gaza strip in Israel.

“Under my authority,” said the document, “I ordered the license holder not to sell electricity to the Gaza strip.”

In a statement following his order, Cohen said that Israel will “use all the instruments at our disposal to ensure the return of all hostages and we will make sure that Hamas is no longer in the Gaza after the war.”

This measure, which was discussed at a previous session of the cabinet, is part of the pressures exerted by Israel on Hamas. Currently, Gaza depends on both the electricity provided by Israel and the one produced locally by fuel generators. Israeli electricity is at the supply of the desalination plant in the Mawasi humanitarian area.

With the recent disturbance of humanitarian aid and now the reduction of the supply of Israeli electricity, Israel is increasingly pressing Hamas to continue the issuance of hostages and agrees to the current negotiations. A delegation from Israel is due Monday to Doha, Qatar, for advanced discussions