Israel to reconnect Gaza power supply four months after cutting it off

The decision to reconnect the EU-funded seawater desalination plant in Deir el-Balah – the only one in the Gaza Strip – to the power grid was made during a Cabinet discussion on July 5 and came in response to international pressure to ensure the supply of clean water in the territory, Israel's Channel 14 News reported.

The facility's full production capacity is up to 18,000 cubic meters per day but, after Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen ordered to stop supplying electricity in March, its output dropped to approximately 2,000 cubic meters per day, according to Channel 14.

Jerusalem's decision to halt the electricity supply came in response to Hamas’ rejection of the ceasefire extension proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel accepted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in March that no goods or supplies would enter Gaza until further notice, reaffirming that Jerusalem will not agree to a truce without the release of hostages.

The cabinet vote on restarting the energy supply to the Strip came days before the European Union – which contributed €10 million to the desalination plant – announced that Israel had agreed to "significant steps" to improve the humanitarian situation.

Measures agreed upon included increasing the number of aid trucks entering each day, opening additional crossings to the north and south of the Strip, reopening Jordanian and Egyptian aid routes, resuming fuel deliveries to aid facilities and repairing infrastructure, said Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

Asked by JNS whether the reactivation of the Kela power line was part of these steps, an Israeli official declined to answer, saying that "COGAT's activities are based on the Israeli Cabinet decisions".

A spokesperson for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office declined to respond to a request for comment.