Israel’s Energy Minister, Israel Katz, has stated that Israel will not lift its siege of Gaza unless Hamas releases all the hostages it has captured. This announcement comes after a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Saturday, which led to Israeli authorities cutting off water, fuel, and electricity to the Palestinian exclave. Katz made his statement on a social media platform, where he emphasized that no humanitarian aid will be provided until the Israeli abductees are returned home.
In a previous post on the same platform, Katz mentioned that Israel had been supplying Gaza with essential resources for years. However, instead of showing gratitude, Hamas attacked and harmed Israeli soldiers and civilians. Katz referred to them as “human animals” who engage in acts of slaughter, murder, rape, and the kidnapping of innocent individuals. He vowed to continue tightening the siege until the Hamas threat to Israel and the world is eliminated.
The blockade of Gaza was initially announced by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. Gallant declared that there would be no access to electricity, food, fuel, or water. He described the ongoing conflict as a fight against “human animals” and stated that Israel would act accordingly.
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have expressed concerns regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. EU Foreign Policy Commissioner Josep Borrell stated that depriving the civilian population of food, water, and electricity goes against international law.
Meanwhile, the UN has also decided to launch investigations into potential war crimes committed during the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The organization claims to have clear evidence of serious violations of international human rights laws by both sides.
The surge in violence began when Hamas launched its operation, named Al-Aqsa Flood, on Saturday. The group fired rockets into Israeli territory and sent commandos deep into the country. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bombed Gaza and cut off all utilities. This marked an official declaration of war by Israel.
As of Thursday morning, the conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life on both sides. Israel has reported at least 1,300 dead and 3,300 injured among its citizens. Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities in Gaza have recorded at least 1,203 dead and over 5,763 wounded since the hostilities began.
Overall, the situation between Israel and Gaza remains tense, with Israel maintaining its siege until all hostages are released by Hamas. The UN and the EU continue to raise concerns regarding the impact on civilians and potential war crimes committed during the conflict. Investigations are now underway to address these allegations and hold the responsible parties accountable.
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