Is a new Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attack on the Gaza Strip imminent? Israel cut off electricity to the entire Strip on Sunday, which usually signals some escalation in military operations.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced in a video message that Israel would use “all available means to ensure the return of all Israeli hostages” and force Hamas to leave Gaza.
“I just signed an order to immediately suspend electricity to the Gaza Strip,” Cohen confirmed. There had been long power outages during the Hamas-Israeli war.
Tough Israeli politician Itamar Ben Gvir praised the move:
“The Gaza Strip must be completely and immediately blacked out as long as even one Israeli hostage is held there,” he said.
“Israel must bomb the huge fuel depots that entered the Strip as part of the ill-fated deal, as well as the generators operated by Hamas.”
The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million Palestinians, and those who have electricity rely mostly on generators. Israeli authorities have restricted the few remaining supplies going to the Strip.
Hamas is demanding access to all resources and the return of humanitarian aid shipments from foreign countries and international organizations.
“We call on the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, as well as the US government guarantor, to ensure that [Israel] abides by the agreement and proceeds with the second phase according to the agreed conditions,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Agence France-Presse.
The White House appears to have become quieter on pushing through Trump’s controversial plan to drive all Palestinians out of Gaza to build a river on the Mediterranean.
However, Trump has warned that there will be “hell” if all Israeli prisoners are not released. Media estimates typically state the following:
According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, more than half of whom are dead. Of the 59, five are American-Israelis, of whom only one – Edan Alexander – is still alive.
Al Aqsa TV – a channel affiliated with the militant group – quoted senior Hamas official Taher Al Nunu on Sunday as saying he would not oppose Alexander’s release as part of negotiations to end the war.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement has been signed and completed, but it is an open question whether it will last into the second phase. For now, the guns have still fallen silent and an uneasy truce prevails.
