Key Takeaways:

• Israel has officially cut off electricity supply to Gaza, escalating tensions and humanitarian concerns.
• This decision follows a blockade of humanitarian aid and comes just as new ceasefire negotiations are scheduled.
• Hamas denounces the electricity cut as a violation of international laws and collective punishment against civilians.

JERUSALEM — Israel announced on Sunday the immediate cessation of its electricity supply to Gaza, a move that has raised serious humanitarian concerns for the besieged territory, particularly affecting its desalination plants that provide critical drinking water. This measure has been interpreted as an attempt to pressure Hamas into concessions related to the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, which are set to resume shortly in Qatar.

The decision by Israel’s Energy Minister Eli Cohen comes a week after all supplies of humanitarian aid were halted to Gaza, which has a population of over 2 million people who are already suffering from the effects of prolonged conflict. The first phase of a ceasefire deal expired at the beginning of March, and Israel seeks to extend it, while Hamas is pressing for negotiations to begin on the more complicated second phase.

Thousands of patients and civilians in Gaza are now facing a dire situation as electricity powers essential services, including medical facilities. “The decision to cut off electricity is a failed option and poses a threat to Israeli prisoners, who will only be freed through negotiations,” said Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanoua in response to the announcement. The militant group claims to still hold 58 hostages, as many lives continue to be disrupted by ongoing military strikes and blockade.

Israeli officials assert that the power cut is a tactic to push Hamas into accepting a revised ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of a significant number of hostages. Cohen stated emphatically, “We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages,” reinforcing the government's tough stance. Yet humanitarian organizations have criticized this measure as collective punishment, violating international humanitarian laws, an assessment echoed by rights groups and international observers.

The blockade of aid has resulted in dwindling supplies of food, medicine, and water, as shops and bakeries close due to the lack of resources. Gazans are increasingly reliant on stored power and emergency measures to face a bleak future. As articulations of discontent arise from various factions, there is caution about how this situation will impact the ongoing diplomatic discussions.

The upcoming talks in Doha aim to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The background leading to this stalemate, marked by the horrifying figures of over 48,000 fatalities in Gaza since the war's escalation on October 7, 2023, exacerbates the urgency of finding a sustainable solution that honors the needs of both hostages and the population in the affected regions.

For continued updates on the humanitarian impact and developments in the ceasefire negotiations, follow the ongoing reports from Al Jazeera.