RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Gulf neighbors Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Tuesday condemned Israel’s decision to cut electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip, urging the international community to take action.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry expressed “condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli occupation authorities’ use of collective punishment against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by cutting off electricity to the area.”
A Qatari statement said the wealthy Gulf state “strongly condemns the Israeli occupation’s act of cutting electricity to the Gaza Strip, considering it a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.”
On Sunday, Israel disconnected the only power line to a water desalination plant in Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing its remaining hostages held since the unprecedented attack of 7 October 2023.
The United Nations warned of “dire consequences” for Gaza’s beleaguered population, while Britain said it was “deeply concerned.”
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to “take urgent actions immediately,” while Qatar also urged “immediate action to provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people.”
Israel’s negotiating team left for Qatar Monday for talks aimed at extending the fragile Gaza ceasefire after the authorities cut the Palestinian territory’s electricity supply to ramp up pressure on Hamas.
Ahead of the negotiations, Israel disconnected the only power line to a water desalination plant in Gaza, a move Hamas denounced as “cheap and unacceptable blackmail.”
The first phase of the truce deal expired on 1 March with no agreement on subsequent stages that should secure a lasting end to the war.
There are differences over how to proceed — Hamas wants immediate negotiations on the next phase, but Israel prefers extending phase one.
Hamas accused Israel of reneging on the ceasefire deal, saying in a statement on Monday that Israel “refuses to commence the second phase, exposing its intentions of evasion and stalling.”