Cutting off electricity to Gaza a war crime: Arab Parliament

The Arab Parliament has condemned Israel’s decision to cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip, saying the move is considered a war crime. 

The Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi from the UAE, said the move is considered a war crime and collective punishment.

He also called on the international community to pressure Israel to restore basic services to the population in the Gaza Strip, including allowing aid to enter the enclave.

Israeli Minister of Energy Eli Cohen on Sunday decided to halt electricity supply to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.

Hamas described the electricity cut as "blackmail," a term it had also used after Israel blocked the aid.

The truce's initial phase ended on March 1 and both sides have refrained from returning to all-out war, despite sporadic violence including an air strike on Sunday.

Hamas has repeatedly called for an immediate start to negotiations on the ceasefire's second phase, aiming to end the war permanently. Israel says it prefers extending phase one until mid-April, and halted aid to Gaza over the impasse.

رئيس #البرلمان_العربي يدين قرار كيان الاحتلال قطع الكهرباء عن قطاع #غزة ويحذر من تداعياته

استنكر معالي محمد بن أحمد اليماحي رئيس البرلمان العربي، قرار وزير طاقة كيان الاحتلال الإسرائيلي قطع الكهرباء عن #قطاع_غزة، محذرًا من تداعيات هذا التصعيد، معتبرًا ذلك جريمة حرب وعقابًا… pic.twitter.com/EigWBDNrjx

— ArabParliament البرلمان العربي (@arabparlment) March 10, 2025