Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen ordered an immediate halt of power to Gaza, threatening the functioning of the enclave’s desalinated plants amid continuing shortage of aid during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
In an X’s post, Cohen said he had signed an order that “we will immediately cut off power to the Gaza Strip.” “In the lecture, it’s time to act!” he added.
Sunday’s announcement comes more than a week since Israel blocked all of its goods supply to its territory to more than two million people after Israel abolished the ceasefire contract that ended the 15-month War of Gaza. Nearly 50,000 Palestinians were killed, and after the Israeli attack, the vast swath of Gaza was transformed into tile rubs.
Israel wants to extend the first phase of its third phase deal, but Hamas Group hopes to move the contract to phase 2, as both parties agreed at the beginning. Analysts say Israel’s refusal to enter Phase 2 does not want to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, the narrow land separating Gaza from Egypt.
Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail existing ceasefire contracts, calling the aid cut off “cheap terror, war crimes, blatant attacks.” Aid groups and rights campaigners accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity and violating international humanitarian law in order to cut aid.
The Gaza people are struggling to get bread and basic supplies as the complete Israeli lockdown forced the closing of several bakeries and shops.
Koudalie behind Al Jazeera, who reported from Gaza city, said civilians are suffering as more than a week of Israeli lockdown is in place despite the end of the wild atmosphere in Gaza.
“Many Palestinians are unable to purchase these products, and most of Gaza’s population now relies on food aid.
“Every aspect of food, water, electricity and Palestinian life are affected by Israeli actions,” Khoudary said, adding that the situation on earth remains “devastating.”
Hamas repeatedly called for an immediate start to negotiations in the second phase of the ceasefire. Hamas sources said on Sunday that the delegation left in Doha, Qatar after discussions in Cairo, Egypt.
Reported by Khan Younis, Tareq Abu Azzoum of Al Jazeera said that Hamas representatives will be in Cairo and will hold a meeting with Egyptian officials on the possibility of implementing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
“Hamas has issued a statement agreeing to the establishment of a Technical Independence Committee to operate the Gaza Strip, and has reiterated its call for humanitarian aid to enter,” Azum added, saying the group is calling for a full withdrawal from Israeli territory as part of a future deal.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it would send its representative to Doha on Monday.
Palestinians were killed in Gaza
Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza earlier on Sunday, according to correspondent Al Jazeera.
Several others were injured in the Sunday attack in Gaza City’s Shujaia district, and doctors at Al-Ara Arab Hospital have described some of the injured as important.
“A target fighter plane in an air attack, identified as being operated nearby, said the Israeli military. [Israeli] They are planning to plant explosive devices on the ground in northern Gaza with their troops. ”
Khoudary of Al Jazeera said Israel continues to violate the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19th. “At the official sources say that at least 116 Palestinians have been killed and at least 490 have been injured since the start of the Gaza ceasefire,” she said.
“This is why the Palestinians are waiting for Phase 2 of the ceasefire when all Israeli soldiers are to withdraw from all parts of the Gaza Strip.”
The first phase of six weeks saw the release of 25 living Israeli prisoners and eight bodies in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
In the second phase, Hamas is expected to release all remaining living prisoners, mostly male soldiers, in exchange for the liberation of more Palestinians held in the Israeli prison system. Furthermore, Israel will begin a “complete withdrawal” from Gaza, according to documents agreed in January.
In the third phase, we see that the remaining prisoners of war dead were handed over in exchange for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan in which Gaza was implemented under international supervision.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump’s envoy Adam Bohler told NBC News that overseeing a meeting with Hamas in Doha about the release of Gaza prisoners would be extremely “helpful.”
Bowler said he believed something “could come with me in Gaza within a few weeks,” but he didn’t elaborate.
Trump previously raised a widely condemned plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, urging Arab leaders to offer alternatives.
Their proposal will see the reconstruction of Gaza, which is being funded through the Trust Fund, with Ramallah-based Palestinian authorities returning to rule the territory.
“We need to discuss it more, but that’s a sincere first step,” Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters in Washington in response to the Arab plan.
Witkov will return to the region this week as he will travel to Saudi Arabia this week for discussions on the war in Ukraine.
Israeli rally
Meanwhile, the families of Israeli prisoners have requested the government to fully implement the ceasefire.
“The war could resume in a week,” Einav Zangarkar, mother of Matan Zangarkar, told the Tel Aviv crowd.
“War doesn’t bring hostages home. It kills them.”
West Jerusalem-based analyst Yoni Ben Menachem says Israel’s return to ceasefire negotiations is a “true decision” by the government as they want to ensure the release of the remaining prisoners.
But “military options” remain on the table, he said, which could be decided on Sunday evening, when Israeli Cabinet meets.
Hamas says he is ready to abandon his governance role in Gaza, but refuses to lay weapons.
Meanwhile, Israel’s raids on the occupied West Bank continue unabated. Local media reports say on Sunday, Israeli tanks entered the village of Wadi Burkin and surrounding areas.
Ongoing Israeli operations in Jenin, Talcarem and other regions began days after the ceasefire in Gaza, killing dozens of people, destroying hundreds of homes and evacuating more than 40,000 people.
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