Israel announced that it is stopping supplying electricity to Gaza, and the Western press this morning commented on the possible consequences of this decision, BTA writes.
According to the British newspaper "The Guardian", the potential consequences of the Israeli decision, affecting 2.3 million residents of the devastated Palestinian territory, are unclear, as most of the people in the enclave rely on generators powered by diesel fuel. Aid workers in Gaza told the British newspaper that they believe the two operating seawater desalination plants will have to be shut down, reducing the already scarce supply of clean drinking water.
Other experts suggest that a wastewater treatment plant that is still operating could also be affected. "The Guardian" adds that the situation is further complicated by "unprecedented direct talks between the US and "Hamas", which are aimed primarily at the release of five American citizens among the hostages" that "Hamas" is still holding captive.
According to another British newspaper, "The Telegraph", the main effect of this decision will be to deactivate the main water desalination plant in Gaza, which is located in the city of Deir al-Bala in the central part of the strip. The publication explains that under "normal conditions, the plant produces drinking water for more than 600,000 residents", and that after the "Hamas" attack on Israel on October 7, all electricity in the Gaza Strip was cut off, but supplies to the water purification plant were restored in November last year. "Telegraph" also explains that the Gaza Strip currently relies largely on generators and solar panels to supply itself with energy.
The Israeli energy minister said yesterday that he was immediately cutting off the electricity supply to the Gaza Strip - a move that could have relatively little impact on Gaza given the restrictions already in place there, the American newspaper "New York Times" writes. The publication notes that this decision was made at a time when Israel is trying to put pressure on the radical group "Hamas" amid negotiations related to the fragile ceasefire between the two warring parties.
According to the newspaper, it is unclear how successful this pressure on "Hamas" will be due to the severe restrictions that have already been imposed on Gaza's electricity supply after the Palestinian group's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war in the Palestinian enclave. "New York Times" also notes the long-standing dependence of Gazans on alternative energy supplies due to restrictions imposed before the war.
However, the most obvious effect of the decision was the re-disconnection of a wastewater treatment plant in the enclave, which was powered by Israel, the newspaper emphasizes, adding that the Israeli government's decision to completely cut off the already limited electricity supplies it provided to the Gaza Strip could affect ongoing negotiations on a ceasefire agreement.
The American newspaper "Washington Post" draws attention to the fact that US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to the Qatari capital Doha tomorrow for ceasefire talks. The publication notes that these will be the first ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip since Trump took office. The newspaper comments that US negotiators have recently been holding separate, direct talks with "Hamas" in the hope of winning the release of American hostage Edan Alexander and a number of other live prisoners.
The American magazine "Time" cites the Israeli organization "Gisha", which defends the right of Palestinians to freedom of movement, and writes that the desalination plant provided 18,000 cubic meters of water per day. According to executive director Tanya Hari, however, it is now expected to run on generators and produce about 2,500 cubic meters per day. The head specified that Israel's restrictions on fuel supplies to Gaza have a greater impact, since fuel is needed for delivery trucks.
For its part, the British newspaper "Independent" draws attention to the criticism that the British government has directed at Israel in connection with its decision. According to the British Foreign Office, "humanitarian aid should never be contingent on ceasefire agreements and should not be used as a political tool".