Hamas says Israel has cut electricity since October 2023

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement said on Sunday that Israel has cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip since the beginning of its war in October 2023. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told this to Anadolu in response to Israel’s decision to stop supplying electricity “immediately” to Gaza.

“Israel has practically cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip since the war began,” said Qassem. “This is just another part of the occupation state’s starvation policy, in clear disregard of all international laws and norms.” He called for the implementation of last week’s Arab summit rejecting the siege of the Gaza Strip and the starvation of its people.

Earlier on Sunday, the official Israeli broadcasting authority said that Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen had decided to stop supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip. According to the media outlet, Cohen’s order would lead to a complete power outage in the enclave.

READ: Israel decides to cut off electricity to Gaza ‘immediately’

The residents of the Gaza Strip are suffering from numerous humanitarian crises, including severe water shortages due to Israel cutting off water and fuel supplies. The occupation state has also targeted water facilities and wells during the genocide it has committed since October 2023.

On Friday, the broadcasting authority said that the political leadership in Israel had directed the army to prepare to resume the war on the Gaza Strip, amid the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations. By adopting this position, Israel disregards the fact that it is the party which has evaded the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, whereas Hamas has remained committed to all of the agreement’s terms. The first phase ended last Sunday.

Hamas has affirmed this commitment repeatedly. It has called on the mediators to begin negotiations for the second phase of the agreement, which includes an Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and a complete cessation of the war.

READ: Gaza death toll surpasses 48,450 as Israel kills 5 more Palestinians despite ceasefire