Urging Power, Water Cuts in Gaza, Israeli Right-Wing Minister: We Must Give Hamas Ultimatum

Bezalel Smotrich. (Wikimedia Commons/Yellowman4800)

JAKARTA - A right-wing Israeli minister has urged the severance of essential services in the Gaza Strip, in response to the announcement of a planned postponement of the hostage release by the Palestinian militant group.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for an ultimatum to be given to Hamas, along with the planned postponement of the hostage release this weekend.

"We must give Hamas an ultimatum. Cut off their electricity and water, end humanitarian aid. Open the gates of hell," he said in a conference ahead of a Security Cabinet meeting that will discuss the response to Hamas' announcement, as quoted by The Times of Israel on February 11.

"We need to tell Hamas when we return to war, after we capture all the terrorists, for every hostage that is injured, we will annex five percent of the Gaza Strip that day," he said.

It is known that the Palestinian militant group Hamas announced on Monday that it would postpone the planned release of Israeli hostages this weekend until further notice, because Israel violated the ceasefire.

"The release of prisoners, scheduled for next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation's compliance and retroactive fulfillment of its obligations of the previous weeks," Hamas military wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said.

However, Hamas said it was open to fulfilling the releases on time, if Israel stops its violations. Abu Ubaida said it was committed to the ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel complies with it.

In response, U.S. President Donald Trump said Hamas must release all hostages held by the militant group in Gaza by Saturday afternoon or he would propose canceling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and "let chaos ensue."

Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel remained determined to get all hostages back.

"We will continue to take firm and ruthless action until we return all our hostages, the living and the dead," he said, as quoted by Reuters.

Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and gradual hostage release starting January 19, after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, after being involved in the latest conflict that broke out on October 7, 2023.

So far, 16 of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the 42-day deal have returned, while five Thai hostages were returned in an unscheduled release.