Government rebukes Israel over Gaza electricity threat

The government has accused Israel of risking a breach of international law after it cut off electricity supplies to Gaza.

- DAVID MADDOX, ANGUS THOMPSON

The shock move by Benjamin Netanyahu's government came as the international community waited for the second stage of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas to begin.

It provoked a swift response from the Foreign Office (FCDO), with a spokesperson saying: “Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza, including basic needs such as electricity, risks breaching Israel’s obligations under International Humanitarian Law.”

Israel says it is cutting off its electricity supply “immediately” to Gaza a week after it blocked humanitarian aid to the territory as both sides in the conflict renegotiate the terms of a fragile truce.

The new letter from Israel's energy minister, Eli Cohen, to the Israel Electric Corporation tells it to stop selling power to Gaza. The full effects of that are not immediately clear, but the territory's desalination plants receive power for producing drinking water.