Israeli officials made clear Thursday they won’t let up their economic chokehold on the Gaza Strip as long as the country’s citizens continue to be held by Hamas kidnappers.
The Palestinian militant group is believed to be holding 100 to 150 Israeli and foreign hostages who were abducted Saturday after Hamas fighters swarmed the barrier once thought impregnable between Gaza and Israel.
As its retaliation campaign mounts, Israel has cut off power or critical supplies into the densely populated Palestinian enclave after the attacks that left more than 1,200 Israeli citizens dead. Gaza neighborhoods have been targeted in a massive Israeli bombing campaign as well.
Humanitarian groups have pressed for Gaza citizens to be allowed to leave the area, but the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear freeing the unprecedented number of hostages was its first priority.
“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,” Israel Katz, the country’s energy minister, said Thursday on social media. “Humanitarian for humanitarian — and no one will preach us morals.”
Israeli officials say they have identified nearly 100 of the captives, a group that includes women, children and the elderly. The U.S. and other governments have said their citizens are also among those being held by Hamas, which has threatened to begin executing hostages if Israel launches surprise bombing attacks on Palestinian civilian targets.
Israel has sent waves of air strikes on Hamas positions inside Gaza and is preparing to launch a ground invasion of the enclave in response to the Hamas invasion, the deadliest attack on Israeli citizens in 50 years, officials said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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