Arab League demands Israel undo ‘unjust decision’ to cut electricity from Gaza
Meeting in Cairo, foreign ministers call for ‘immediate’ dispatch of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to Strip
CAIRO — Arab foreign ministers on Wednesday denounced Israel’s siege of Gaza following the shocking and murderous attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel, demanding that aid be “immediately” allowed to enter the blockaded enclave.
Israel has imposed a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the water supply, food and electricity following Saturday’s massive assault by Hamas terrorists on southern Israel.
On Wednesday, as Israel kept up its bombardment of targets in the crowded and impoverished coastal enclave for a fifth day, the only power plant in Gaza shut down. The Palestinian enclave’s electricity authority made the announcement saying the plant had run out of fuel.
Meeting at Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Arab foreign ministers discussed the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and demanded Israel lift its siege of Gaza. They also called for the “immediate” dispatch of food, fuel and humanitarian aid to the impoverished and densely populated coastal enclave.
The Arab foreign ministers also urged Israel to reconsider its “unjust decision to cut electricity supply and water to Gaza.”
Five days of air strikes by the IDF across Gaza in response to Hamas’s brutal assault have struck residential buildings, mosques, factories and shops, said Salama Marouf of the Gaza government’s media office.
Medical supplies, including oxygen, were running low at Gaza’s overwhelmed Al-Shifa hospital, said emergency room physician Mohammed Ghonim.
Israel has reported a “staggering” 1,200 deaths since Saturday’s onslaught by the Islamist militants. Gaza officials speak of more than 1,000 people killed in Israel air and artillery strikes. Israel says it is targeting everywhere in Gaza where Hamas operates.
