Israel has ordered a complete halt to electricity supplies to Gaza, further tightening restrictions on the besieged Palestinian territory in an apparent bid to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages. Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced the decision on Sunday, emphasizing that Israel would use “all means available” to secure the hostages’ return and ensure Hamas’s removal from Gaza.
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The move comes a week after Israel cut off all aid supplies, leaving 2.3 million people in the war-ravaged enclave on the brink of catastrophe. Humanitarian officials warn that the blackout could force Gaza’s two remaining desalination plants offline, exacerbating the already dire shortage of clean drinking water. The territory’s last operational sewage treatment plant is also at risk of shutting down, raising concerns about an impending public health crisis.
Hamas swiftly condemned Israel’s actions, labeling them “cheap and unacceptable blackmail.” Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq stated that depriving Gaza of electricity, food, medicine, and water was a desperate attempt to pressure the Palestinian resistance. The United Nations human rights office also criticized Israel’s restrictions, warning that “any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment.”
Ceasefire Talks at a Crossroads
The electricity cutoff coincides with ongoing ceasefire negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The first phase of the ceasefire, which began in mid-January and formally ended on March 1, had led to a temporary pause in hostilities and the release of 25 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel is pushing for an extension of the truce until mid-April, but Hamas has rejected this proposal, insisting on an immediate transition to the second phase of the agreement. This phase would involve further prisoner exchanges, a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the lifting of the 17-year blockade on Gaza.
“We call on mediators in Egypt and Qatar, as well as the guarantors in the US administration, to ensure that [Israel] complies with the agreement,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israeli delegates would join ceasefire discussions in Doha on Monday.
Adding a new dimension to the negotiations, the US has engaged in unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, primarily focused on securing the release of five American hostages. US envoy Adam Boehler described these discussions as “very helpful” and suggested that a broader hostage deal could be reached “within weeks.” However, he acknowledged Israel’s frustration over Washington’s engagement with Hamas, which the US has designated as a terrorist organization since 1997.
Intensified Israeli Military Operations
Despite the ceasefire talks, Israel has escalated its military campaign in Gaza, launching daily airstrikes across the enclave. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have targeted militants attempting to plant an explosive device in northern Gaza. A day earlier, an Israeli airstrike in Rafah reportedly targeted a drone and a group of suspected militants.
The humanitarian toll of the war continues to mount. Since the conflict erupted in October 2023 following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel—which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken—Israel’s military offensive has left over 48,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. The majority of those killed have been women and children.
Aid organizations have warned that Israel’s blockade on humanitarian supplies is worsening the crisis. The UN has accused Israel of “weaponizing starvation” by blocking essential aid shipments. “The war won’t bring the hostages back home. It will kill them,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in captivity, during a rally in Tel Aviv demanding full implementation of the ceasefire.
The Future of Gaza: Uncertainty and Displacement
While Israel has yet to present a clear post-war governance plan for Gaza, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has proposed a controversial alternative: encouraging mass migration of Palestinians out of the enclave. On Sunday, he announced plans to establish a “migration directorate” to facilitate the permanent relocation of Gaza’s residents.
The idea aligns with previous statements by former US President Donald Trump, who suggested that Palestinians could be relocated to allow Gaza to be reconstructed as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Arab leaders, however, have proposed a different approach—establishing a trust fund to finance Gaza’s reconstruction while allowing the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) to assume governance.
Hamas has supported the formation of an independent technocratic committee to oversee Gaza’s administration until presidential and legislative elections are held. However, Israel has firmly rejected any PA involvement, leaving the future of Gaza’s governance in limbo.
As ceasefire negotiations resume in Doha, the fate of the hostages, the people of Gaza, and the possibility of a long-term truce hang in the balance. The coming weeks will determine whether diplomacy can prevent further bloodshed—or whether the war will escalate once more.