On Thursday, Israel Katz, the Energy Minister of Israel, vowed his country would not permit basic resources or humanitarian assistance into Gaza until Hamas freed the people it abducted during its shocking attack on Saturday.
In a statement, Katz said, “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.”
About 150 Israelis, foreigners, and dual nationals were abducted to the Gaza Strip by the Palestinian militants Hamas as part of the Saturday surprising attack that killed more than 1,200 people in Israeli towns and communities around the enclave.
Israel has in turn launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the besieged Gaza Strip, killing around 1,200 people.
Israel announced, in recent days, a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off water, fuel, and electricity supplies. The Palestinian territory’s sole power plant shut down on Wednesday after running out of fuel.
