(Dan Tri) – Israel continues to airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and announced that it will only stop blockading this area when Hamas releases all hostages.
Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza (Photo: Reuters).
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said today, October 12, that Gaza will continue to be surrounded, without supplies of electricity, fuel and essential goods until Hamas releases all hostages.
`Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No, no power switches will be turned on, no water taps will be turned on and no fuel trucks will be allowed in until the hostages are returned home,` the minister said.
Earlier this week, Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas forces suddenly fired thousands of rockets toward Israel and kidnapped about 150 hostages to take to Gaza.
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz confirmed on October 11 that the country is blocking the supply of water, electricity and fuel to the Gaza Strip, where there are about 2 million people.
`For many years, we have provided electricity, water and fuel to Gaza. Instead of saying thank you, they sent thousands of troops to attack the people. That’s why we decided to stop the water supply,
Disruptions in the supply of electricity, water and essential goods amid continued bombardment of Gaza are causing difficulties for people in Gaza and the risk of a serious humanitarian crisis.
European Union foreign ministers earlier this week urged Israel not to cut off electricity, water and food supplies to Gaza, and called for the creation of humanitarian corridors for those seeking to leave the territory.
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Josep Borrell emphasized that `must respect international law, international humanitarian law, which means not blocking water supplies, electricity or wages.`
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also said that the agency is contacting both Israel and Hamas, trying to negotiate the release of hostages, and urging both sides to minimize losses to civilians.
Israel continues to conduct large-scale raids
Smoke rises in Gaza after Israel’s attack (Photo: AFP).
While blockading Gaza, Israel continued to conduct large-scale raids on targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said one of the targets of this airstrike was to target Hamas’s elite Nakhba force.
He said that currently, Hamas gunmen are still trying to infiltrate territory controlled by Israel by land.
The fighting shows no signs of cooling down, raising concerns that the number of casualties on both sides will continue to increase.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as of today, more than 1,200 people in Gaza have died, while more than 5,000 people have been injured.
Mr. Hecht said the Israeli army is preparing for the next phase of the war, but any decision depends on the government.
