Sun Mar 09 16:52:44 UTC 2025: ## Israel Cuts Electricity to Gaza Amid Hostage Crisis
**JERUSALEM** – Israel has cut off electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip, escalating pressure on Hamas to release Israeli hostages held following the October 7th attacks. Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced the decision Sunday, stating that all available tools would be used to secure the hostages’ release and remove Hamas from power.
This move echoes the initial days of the conflict and comes a week after Israel halted all aid to the besieged territory. The aid blockade, imposed after the expiration of a ceasefire’s first phase on March 1st, was intended to pressure Hamas into accepting an extension under Israeli terms. While Israel seeks an extension until mid-April, Hamas demands a transition to a second phase aimed at a permanent end to hostilities.
Hamas has condemned the aid blockade and the subsequent electricity cutoff as collective punishment, a war crime, also claiming it jeopardizes the well-being of the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Of the 251 captives taken during the October attacks, 58 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Hamas of severe consequences if the hostages are not released, and Israeli media reports suggest a plan codenamed “Hell Plan” is underway. This plan reportedly includes further measures such as relocating residents from northern Gaza, and a potential resumption of full-scale military operations. Israel had previously imposed a complete siege on Gaza after October 9th, periodically adjusting the flow of humanitarian aid. The latest electricity cutoff marks a significant escalation in Israel’s strategy to secure the release of its hostages and achieve its objectives in Gaza.
First Piper 