Israel cuts off Gaza electricity supply as tensions with Hamas flare over ceasefire

George Bunn

Published: 09/03/2025

- 15:23

Updated: 09/03/2025

- 19:10

Israel has confirmed it is cutting the supply of electricity transmission to Gaza.

Energy Minister Eli Cohen has instructed the Israel Electric Corporation to cut off the supply to the heavily bombarded strip.

It comes just hours after Hamas told US officials it is open to releasing American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander as part of talks to end the war.

Cohen said in a video address: "We will employ all the tools available to us so that all the hostages will return, and we will ensure that Hamas won’t be in Gaza on the ‘day after,'"

$\u200bPalestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed houses, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas,$

Palestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed houses, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Reuters

$\u200bPalestinians gather to receive bread from a bakery, in Khan Younis$

Palestinians gather to receive bread from a bakery, in Khan Younis

Reuters

Gaza has been largely devastated by the war, and generators and solar panels are used for some of the power supply in the enclave, where Hamas-run health authorities estimate that around 48,400 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict.

The war started after the Islamist militant group carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,500 people and taking over 200 hostage.

The measure to cut supply would have little immediate impact, as Israel already cut supply to Gaza at the start of the war. It would, however, affect a wastewater treatment plant presently supplied with power, according to the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC).

Now, 17 months later, both Hamas and the Israeli Government are in dispute about the ceasefire deal, which requires the Islamist militant group which controls Gaza to release the 59 remaining hostages taken on October 7.

LATEST ON THE WAR IN GAZA

$Palestinian Hamas militants keep guard on the day Hamas hands over deceased hostages \u200b$ Palestinian Hamas militants keep guard on the day Hamas hands over deceased hostages Reuters

Hostages

A collage of all the hostages held by Hamas

Getty

Hamas said this weekend, before Israel confirmed the power was switched off, there were "positive indicators" for talks on the second phase of the ceasefire.

However, Israel accused Hamas of refusing to accept a proposal to extend the initial stage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, and threatened "additional consequences" and a return to war.

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House last week that gaining the release of Edan Alexander, the 21-year-old man from New Jersey believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas, was a "top priority for us."

Underscoring the ceasefire negotiations, Gaza medics said one Palestinian was killed and two others were wounded on Sunday by Israeli fire in Shejaia in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military said its air force struck several "terrorists" who operated near their forces and attempted to plant a bomb.

$\u200bPalestinian children walk after receiving food cooked by a charity kitchen$

Palestinian children walk after receiving food cooked by a charity kitchen

Reuters

$\u200bA drone view shows houses destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip$

A drone view shows houses destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip

Reuters

Fighting has been halted since January 19 and Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.

The fighting has also internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire population and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel strongly denies.