Gazans may very well be left without drinking water after Israel cuts off electricity in a dispute with Hamas over hostage releases.
Greater than half 1,000,000 people have returned to northern Gaza since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brought a pause to 18 months of war.
Their homes could also be rubble, and Israel’s offensive can have killed greater than 48,000 Palestinians, in keeping with Gaza’s health ministry, however the ceasefire offered a likelihood for peace.
It was alleged to run in three phases. First, an exchange of hostages taken by Hamas and its allies within the October 7, 2023, massacre, for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Israel withdrew its forces to a 3rd of a mile inside Gaza, the sick and wounded may very well be evacuated, and a whole bunch of trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed to enter the enclave.
Then negotiations began for the subsequent stage of the ceasefire, and that is where they’ve got stuck.
Israel wants the primary phase prolonged so hostage swaps can proceed.
Hamas wants to maneuver onto the second phase, through which it wants Israel’s full withdrawal.
Last week, Israel stopped all goods – including humanitarian aid – from entering Gaza right at first of Ramadan, Muslims’ holy month.
Charities called this a ‘callous disregard for humanity’, increasing the chance that ‘1000’s more could die from hunger and related diseases’.
Hamas called it a violation of international law. Israel warned of ‘further consequences’ if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages – of which 24 are believed to be alive.
Today Israel has followed through. Writing on X, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen said: ‘I actually have now signed an order to chop off electricity to the Gaza Strip immediately. Enough with the talk, it’s time for motion!’
It could mean Gaza’s desalination plants – which receive power via Israel -are unable to proceed producing drinking water.
Israel’s decision got here shortly after Hamas representatives left negotiations with Egyptian mediators with no change of their position.
The US has also confirmed it has had direct talks with Hamas.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said: ‘We call on mediators in Egypt and Qatar, in addition to the guarantors within the US administration, to make sure that [Israel] complies with the agreement … and proceeds with the second phase in keeping with the agreed-upon terms.’
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