Israel has cut off electricity supply to Gaza, sparking international concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
Seif Magango, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, described the decision as “very concerning,” warning that essential services such as water desalination plants, healthcare facilities, and bakeries are at risk of shutting down due to a lack of power and fuel.
“As the occupying power, Israel has a legal obligation to ensure the provision of necessities for Palestinians under its control,” Magango stated. “Blocking access to life-sustaining resources to pressure a party in an armed conflict raises serious concerns of collective punishment.”
Before the war, Gaza relied on ten power lines from an Israeli electricity company for about 110 megawatts—more than half of its total supply—while the rest came from a local diesel power plant, which was destroyed by Israeli shelling. The ongoing blockade on food, medicine, fuel, and shelter has now entered its ninth day, further exacerbating the crisis.
The UN and international human rights organizations have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon, including by denying clean water to Palestinians. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for the immediate restoration of electricity and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire are ongoing, with Israeli negotiators expected in Doha for mediation talks involving Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
Hamas condemned the power cut, calling it “cheap and unacceptable blackmail,” while the Jordanian Foreign Ministry denounced Israel’s actions as a “scandalous violation” of international law. The ministry accused Israel of “doubling down on the policy of starvation and siege,” as humanitarian aid remains blocked from reaching Gaza.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting 48,467 Palestinian deaths and over 111,000 injuries. The Government Media Office in Gaza has placed the death toll at 61,709, citing thousands of people still trapped under the rubble. In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed in the October 7, 2023 attacks, with more than 200 taken captive.
