Israel-Palestine war: Israel will not supply water and fuel to Gaza until hostages are freed
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed on Thursday that no basic essentials or humanitarian aid will be allowed in Gaza until all Israeli hostages are released.
"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," Katz said in a statement.
Gaza residents on Thursday told Middle East Eye that survivors are struggling to find any clean water.
“We don’t have any electricity or water left, people need it not just to drink but to clean themselves,” one resident said.
“People are queuing up to get water, there are only three trucks that have clean water to serve the whole of Gaza. People are also waking up early to queue outside bakeries just to get some bread,” he added.
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In central Gaza City, people are scrambling to find any source of food, as they are unable to cook or make any food at home after Israel cut off all electricity supplies to the besieged enclave.
Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas in retribution for the movement’s massive coordinated assault on Saturday, when hundreds of fighters crossed Gaza’s barrier fence and attacked Israeli towns, while thousands of rockets rained down on Israel.
More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed and 150 Israelis and foreigners were abducted to the Gaza Strip by Palestinian fighters, the worst losses the state has suffered in half a century.
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Israel has since carried out a punishing bombing campaign on Gaza, home to over two million people, causing widespread destruction and flattening entire neighbourhoods.
'We don’t have any electricity or water left, people need it not just to drink but to clean themselves'
- Gaza resident
Israel has imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip in recent days, cutting off fuel, water, energy and food supplies. Gaza’s sole power plant shut down on Wednesday after running out of fuel.
Areas across the Gaza Strip have suffered electricity blackout for days, with some areas only receiving four hours of power every 24 hours.
Hospital staff and medical personnel told Middle East Eye that they have been relying on backup generators to maintain essential services, as medical facilities are nearing breaking point due to the huge number of casualties they are receiving.
At least 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded in Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign.
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Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for Gaza's health ministry, said several hospitals were relying on old and "dilapidated" generators which were leading to increased fuel consumption.
"We are really concerned that the power generators may cease functioning at any given moment," he told MEE.
Residents have also reported a partial loss of internet connection as a result of the massive damage inflicted to infrastructure by Israeli bombing.
Separately, the Palestinian Prisoners Authority on Thursday said that Israel has cut off all access to water and electricity for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. There are 5,200 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to rights group Addameer.
“This is a disturbing step of revenge, as it is unthinkable to leave nearly a thousand detainees without water for all these hours,” the statement added.
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