Israel said that it would cut off its electricity supply to Gaza in an ongoing bid to force the Hamas terrorist group to accept its terms for a cease-fire extension.
The announcement comes days after Israel ceased all aid and deliveries of goods to the Hamas-controlled territory of more than 2 million people to pressure the terror group into accepting an extension of the first phase of an ongoing cease-fire deal. On March 4, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was prepared to increase pressure and would not rule out cutting off the region’s electricity supply if Hamas doesn’t acquiesce.
The cease-fire deal’s first phase ended on March 1, and Israel has offered to negotiate a lasting truce if Hamas releases half of the remaining hostages who were kidnapped during its terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which also killed about 1,200 people and wounded thousands.2
Instead, Hamas prefers to begin discussions on the cease-fire’s more ambitious second phase, which would result in the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Israel withdrawing all forces and agreeing to peace. There are 24 living hostages and 35 bodies of others still believed to be held by Hamas.