Beatrice Lang
Israel's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza has raised concerns about the impact on the already fragile water supply in the region. The cut-off, announced by Israel's energy minister Eli Cohen, is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release Israeli hostages and agree to a ceasefire. This move has sparked protests and criticism, with some calling it collective punishment and blackmail. The power cut has affected desalination plants, reducing the supply of clean drinking water and exacerbating the water crisis in Gaza. The situation has led to humanitarian concerns, with residents facing food insecurity and price increases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | March 9, 2025 |
| Reason | To pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages |
| Affected Infrastructure | Desalination plants, water supply, sewage treatment plants |
| Population Impact | 2 million+ people |
| Previous Actions | Suspended supplies of goods, food, and aid |
| International Reaction | Accusations of "starvation policy" and "collective punishment" |
| Political Figures Involved | Eli Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel's decision to cut electricity supply to Gaza was an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages
- The cut in electricity supply affected a desalination plant producing drinking water
- The power cut exacerbated the existing water crisis in Gaza
- Israel's military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza
- Israel has faced criticism for cutting off supplies to Gaza
Israel's decision to cut electricity supply to Gaza was an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages
Israel's decision to cut the electricity supply to Gaza has had a devastating impact on the already war-torn region. The move has been widely interpreted as an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. The electricity cut-off has affected the operation of desalination plants, resulting in a water crisis for the 2.3 million residents of the territory.
Israel's Energy Minister, Eli Cohen, announced the directive to cut electricity to Gaza, stating that Israel would use "all means available" to ensure the return of Israeli hostages and the removal of Hamas from the region. The decision to cut electricity came a week after Israel suspended all aid and supply of goods to Gaza, including food and medicine, leading to food insecurity and a tripling of essential prices.
The electricity cut-off has had a severe impact on the water supply in Gaza, with humanitarian officials expressing concerns about the potential shutdown of the already meagre supply of clean water from desalination plants. The Southern Gaza desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, which provided drinking water for 600,000 people, was powered by electricity from Israel and has been forced to shut down. The water crisis in Gaza has been further exacerbated by the destruction of over 700 groundwater wells during Israel's bombardment of the strip.
The decision to cut electricity has been criticized by Hamas as "cheap and unacceptable blackmail," with Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's political bureau, condemning the move. The United Nations human rights office has also expressed concern, stating that "any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment."
The electricity cut-off is part of a broader context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with Israel resuming its bombing campaign and ground operations in Gaza and intensifying strikes. The first phase of the ceasefire in January 2025 led to the release of 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for the freedom of about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. However, negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire have stalled, with Israel refusing to engage in talks that would require a full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the war.
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The cut in electricity supply affected a desalination plant producing drinking water
Israel's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza has had a significant impact on the territory's water supply, particularly affecting a desalination plant that produces drinking water.
The Southern Gaza desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, which turns seawater into drinking water for 600,000 people, was powered by a single line fed by electricity from Israel. With the cut in electricity supply, the plant has been forced to rely on generators, leading to a significant reduction in its water output. According to the plant's management, water production has decreased from 18,000 cubic meters per day to just 2,000 cubic meters.
The decision to disconnect the desalination plant from the electricity supply has reduced its capacity to produce drinking water by 85%. This means a decrease in the amount of clean water available for the people in Gaza, exacerbating the existing water shortages in the territory.
The cut in electricity supply to the desalination plant comes amid other actions taken by Israel, including blocking food and humanitarian aid to Gaza. These actions have left residents struggling to feed their families and facing food insecurity, with prices of essential goods tripling.
The situation in Gaza is dire, and the cut in electricity supply, specifically affecting the desalination plant, has only added to the challenges faced by the people in the territory.
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The power cut exacerbated the existing water crisis in Gaza
Israel's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza has had a devastating impact on the region's water supply, exacerbating an already dire situation. The power cut has specifically affected the operation of desalination plants, which are crucial for providing clean drinking water to the population.
The Southern Gaza desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, for instance, has been forced to rely on generators, resulting in a significant drop in water output. According to plant management, the daily water production has plummeted from 18,000 cubic meters to just 2,000 cubic meters. This reduction in output means that hundreds of thousands of people who depend on this plant for their water supply are now facing even more severe water shortages.
Even before the power cut, Gaza's water infrastructure had been severely impacted by the conflict. In January 2025, Gaza's water authority reported that more than 700 groundwater wells had been destroyed during Israeli bombardments, further impeding access to water for the population. Additionally, the Palestinian water authority stated that even before the latest conflict, 90% of the water in Gaza was undrinkable.
The electricity cut-off has also affected the entry of other essential supplies, including food and medicine. This has resulted in food insecurity, soaring prices, and a lack of access to medical aid, compounding the challenges faced by the people of Gaza. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concern over the impact of the power cut on the availability of safe water, particularly for children, and have called for immediate action to restore water and electricity access.
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Israel's military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza
On March 9, 2025, Israel ordered all of Gaza's electricity supply to be cut off. This was an attempt to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory. The decision to cut the electricity supply affected a desalination plant that produced drinking water for 600,000 people.
The decision to cut the electricity supply to Gaza came a week after Israel suspended the supply of food and other goods to the territory. This has caused food insecurity and a severe hunger crisis, with prices of essentials tripling.
Israel's military offensive in Gaza has resulted in a high number of Palestinian casualties. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, the offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children. However, it is important to note that the Health Ministry's figures do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas combatants, who do not wear formal uniforms or carry separate identification.
The Israeli military has acknowledged ''professional failures'' that led to the killing of 15 paramedics and first responders in an incident in Gaza in March 2025. The group, mostly comprising members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, which sparked international condemnation. While the Israeli military admitted to breaches of orders and a failure to fully report the incident, it stood by the decision-making of the soldiers who carried out the attack.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in significant destruction and displacement in Gaza. By early 2025, Israel's actions had caused unprecedented destruction, rendering large parts of Gaza uninhabitable. Nearly all of the strip's 2.3 million Palestinian population have been forcibly displaced, and essential infrastructure, including healthcare, agricultural land, and educational facilities, has been severely impacted.
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Israel has faced criticism for cutting off supplies to Gaza
Israel has faced widespread criticism for cutting off supplies to Gaza. In 2025, Israel resumed its bombing campaign and ground operations in Gaza, cutting off electricity and water supplies to the region. This decision was met with international condemnation, with the United Nations human rights office stating that "any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment".
Israel's energy minister, Eli Cohen, announced the directive to cut electricity to Gaza, stating that Israel would use "all means available" to ensure the return of Israeli hostages and the removal of Hamas from the region. This decision affected the operation of desalination plants, which are crucial for providing clean drinking water to the 2.3 million residents of Gaza.
The impact of the electricity cut-off was felt across Gaza, with humanitarian officials expressing concern over the potential shutdown of the already meagre water supply. The Southern Gaza desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, which provided drinking water for 600,000 people, was forced to run on generators, significantly reducing its water output. The power cut also impacted other essential services, including hospitals, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Israel's decision to cut off supplies to Gaza has been characterised as a form of "starvation policy" and "blackmail" by critics. The United Nations and human rights organisations have accused Israel of "weaponising starvation" and deliberately depriving Palestinians in Gaza of access to safe water, food, and essential goods. The International Criminal Court has also issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of using starvation as a weapon of war.
The situation in Gaza has been dire, with Palestinians struggling to feed their families and facing food insecurity due to the blockade. The cutting off of supplies has further exacerbated the existing water shortages and humanitarian crisis in the region, with serious concerns for the welfare of the population.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel cut off electricity in Gaza in March 2025.
Israel cut off electricity in Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages held in the territory and to force an extension of the ceasefire.
The primary impact of the electricity cut-off was on the operation of desalination plants, which are crucial for providing clean drinking water. This exacerbated the existing water crisis in Gaza.
