Israel ordered its state-run electricity company to halt supply to the Gaza Strip on Saturday after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, the energy minister said.
“I have signed an order instructing (Israel) Electric Company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza,” Energy Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
At least 150 Israelis have been killed in the attacks launched by the Palestinian movement Hamas.
Israel said the Iran-backed group had declared war as its army confirmed fighting with militants in several Israeli towns and military bases near Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.
They do target Hamas. Hamas likes to hide terrorist activity in homes, mosques, schools, and hospitals. Which is why Israel develops technology to try to ensure that there are no civilians present when it fires on a base of terrorist activity. And also why Israel uses a variety of technologies to warn any potential civilians who they might have missed that there is a counterattack coming to disable rocket fire. Hamas doesn’t mind the headlines when a few Palestinian civilians inevitably die in one of these counterstrikes. It’s part of the plan.
I’m aware of that. And that’s collateral damage, which is unfortunate but it happens in war, especially with groups like Hamas operating as you said. I’m specifically talking about shutting off all electricity to Gaza indiscriminately – that’s collective punishment.