Israel has cut off the Gaza strip's access to several vital resources - including food, water, fuel, and power - until Hamas returns the hostages that it has taken.
Israel energy minister Israel Katz indicated as much in a message that he posted to his X account on Thursday.
This is the question with which Katz begins his X message. Then, he puts forth the ultimatum.
"No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," He wrote."
Katz added, "Humanitarian for humanitarian. And, no one will preach morals to us."
סיוע הומניטרי לעזה? אף מתג חשמל לא יורם, שיבר מים לא יפתח ומשאית דלק לא תיכנס עד להשבת החטופים הישראלים הביתה. הומניטרי תמורת הומניטרי. ושאף אחד לא יטיף לנו מוסר.
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 12, 2023
The latest reports indicate that more than 2,800 people have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas. This includes over 1,300 Israeli citizens.
The war began after Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel on Saturday - during the holiday of Simchat Torah - and carried out a devastating attack on the Israeli people.
During the course of its attack, Hamas is reported to have taken many hostages. The number is believed to be around 150. Reports also indicated that Hamas has killed at least some of these hostages.
Israel, however, is now trying to do what it can to get the remaining hostages back, and this is why it has cut off resources to the Gaza strip.
The cutting off of resources has only been part of Israel's response to Hamas' attack. Israel has also launched defensive efforts that are reported to have already claimed the lives of at least 1,500 Hamas terrorists.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring to Hamas, has pledged to "wipe them off the face of the Earth."
At the time of this writing, it appears that Israel is getting ready to launch its own major counteroffensive. Fox News reports that, ahead of the attack, Israel has issued a warning to the citizens of Gaza to evacuate.
Per the outlet:
Israel has warned the 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza to evacuate the area within 24 hours as a "humanitarian step in order to minimize civilian casualties" ahead of the military's response to Hamas' terrorist attacks.
