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.
This type of collective punishment against civilians is a war crime.
I don’t think this is a “punishment.” It seems rather foolish to expect them to supply electricity to the people actively using the electricity to kill their civillians.
The second half of your comment refutes the first
what? how so? Are you saying you do expect them to help Hamas kill Israeli civilians? Is “not being allowed to kill Israeli civilians” a form of punishment, to you?
By all accounts the attacks are over, what’s left are reprisals
I heard Israel declared war. It would be odd to deliver electricity to your enemy. Other campaigns target power plants. Short of expecting Israel to bomb their own plants, I would expect them to simply cut power if they can. Not saying they should, just pointing out it’s a common thing in war.
are the attacks over now?
please, remind me, are the attacks over yet?
no water, that’s not a reprisal? medical care compromised by no power, if you’re into reprisals I think you should say it, but until now you’ve been entirely dishonest about it
“to the people actively using electricity to kill their civilians”
Right. So you’re telling me they have data analysts that can precisely tell which buildings are occupied by hamas and which are occupied by civilians. You know, intel that would be worth a fortune for them considering that’s kinda their enemy and it would be an incredible chance to get rid of them once and for all. Notwithstanding the fact that they’d have to have the ability to individually toggle electricity for every building, which, I have a feeling, does not in fact work that way.
Allow me to clarify.
Their first priority is to stop their citizens from dying.
If they need to cut off electricity to terrorists to do that, they will. If they need to cut off electricity to whole regions of the Gaza strip, or the Gaza strip altogether, to keep their people safe, they will.
More targeted enforcement would be preferred. Sure. But that’s not what I said was happening.
Fun fact, Israel is very good at intel. Israel can often find which building are occupied by Hamas.
Fun fact, Hamas enjoys operating from, and firing rockets from, civilian homes, mosques, hospitals, and schools. Here’s a handy list: https://kbin.social/m/Israel/t/368817/A-handy-list-of-sources-describing-where-Hamas-produces-stores
One of Israel’s greatest challenges is finding ways to stop terrorism given this unfortunate reality. They develop technology to try to detect civilian presence in these buildings, and to, in case they miss anybody, warn the civilians and give them time to evacuate.
Not having that data is exactly the point, if they had that sure they could specifically cut power. But they don’t have that, and Hamas is mixing with civilians, so they’re forced to cut power across the board