Gaza ceasefire in doubt as Israel tightens grip on aid
By squeezing Gaza’s civilian population, Israel hopes to pressure Hamas into extending the ceasefire on its terms.
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WASHINGTON — What Israel’s leaders say is a negotiating tactic, Palestinians are calling collective punishment.
On March 2, Israel announced an immediate halt to humanitarian aid and commercial supplies entering Gaza, and a week later, disconnected electricity to a desalination plant that was the last facility in the territory still receiving power from the Israel Electric Corporation. The plant, which serves 600,000 residents, is now running at 30% capacity on backup generators.
Not a single aid truck has entered through Gaza's Israel-controlled border crossings in 11 days, leading to an increase in the prices of food, medicine and fuel. The United Nations says the cost of some vegetables and flour doubled since Israel stopped the flow of goods.
