Hostage families turn to Israel’s High Court over Gaza electricity cut

In the quiet corridors of Israel’s High Court of Justice, a desperate appeal unfolded this week. Nearly 50 released hostages and relatives of those still held captive in Gaza filed a petition, asking the state to restore electricity to the war-torn strip.

The filing came swiftly, just two days after the group dispatched an impassioned letter to the government—addressed to the prime minister, energy minister, and foreign minister—demanding an immediate reversal of the decision to halt Gaza’s electricity supply. Their argument is both visceral and legal: the cutoff, they say, imperils the hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, breaching the state’s duty to protect its citizens.

On Wednesday, the court responded with measured restraint, noting the petitioners hadn’t allowed the state sufficient time to reply to their initial demand. It asked for an update next week.

The petition is a clarion call, urging the court to “order the cancellation of the Energy Minister’s decision and renew electricity to Gaza” to sustain “vital systems for human existence.” It seeks an interim order to restore power while the case unfolds, invoking the principle that “disproportional and irreversible” harm to life hangs in the balance.

The decision to cut electricity, announced by Energy Minister Eli Cohen, lacks legal grounding, the petitioners argue. They contend it was made without proper authority or due consideration, a move that “directly and severely endangers” the hostages’ constitutional rights to life, dignity, and bodily integrity. At its heart, the petition frames this as a test of Israel’s identity: “a Jewish and democratic state” bound to safeguard its own, even amidst war’s chaos.

Among the signatories is Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod, an IDF soldier, was seized on that fateful October day. His words carry a father’s anguish and a citizen’s frustration. “The government takes populist steps to avoid a deal,” he told reporters, pointing to the electricity cutoff as a hollow gesture. “Hamas isn’t fazed by this—Gaza’s residents barely have power anyway. But infections spread, reaching as far as Ashkelon. Last I checked, Ashkelon’s in Israel.”

Cohen sees political theater at play. “Netanyahu, as always, caters to his base with low, populist moves,” he said. “They shut off the electricity to flex muscle, to threaten Hamas. But if it hurts the hostages, it’s indirect—through revenge.” He recalled an interview with freed hostage Eli Sharabi on Channel 12’s Uvda, where Sharabi described Hamas retaliating against captives after setbacks. “Netanyahu plays the hero for his supporters,” Cohen added, “at the hostages’ expense.”

For the families, the High Court is a last resort, though Cohen’s faith in it wavers. “We’ve filed three petitions to help the hostages, and we’re getting no help,” he said. “By the time the court acts, it might not matter.” As Purim’s joy approaches, these families seek a different victory: the flicker of light that might bring their loved ones home.

JPost contributed to this article.