Ministers Surprised at Cabinet Meeting: "How Is There Still Electricity in Gaza?"

Against the backdrop of continuing efforts toward a hostage deal, during last night's security cabinet meeting convened by Netanyahu, ministers and defense representatives discussed how to operate in the Gaza Strip and in negotiations with Hamas. Interesting quotes emerged from the discussion, according to this evening's (Sunday) report on Channel 12 News.

Minister Ron Dermer said during the discussion: "Hamas is blinking, the military pressure is bringing about a change in its position."

Minister Ze'ev Elkin: "We need to continue the military pressure and not stop."

Security officials: "There are significant movements in Hamas's position."

Minister Ben Gvir: "Congratulations to Minister Cohen who cut off their electricity. We need to darken all the power lines in Gaza."

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in the discussion: "But we are not transferring electricity to Gaza now. There was one line and that line was disconnected, now they mainly have generators. There is no electricity that Israel transfers to Gaza. If there was, we would recommend it to you. There isn't."

Minister Ben Gvir: "So what is this electricity that we're seeing?"

COGAT: "There are private generators, and there are solar panels."

Orit Strook asked: "When will they run out of fuel?"

COGAT: "We cannot estimate exactly."

Minister Ben Gvir: "So bring down the generators too, and the internal lines, turn off their lights."

Tzachi Hanegbi (sarcastically): "Rasan, turn off the sun for them, Gaza needs to be darkened even during the day."

Minister Miri Regev: "He wants to give them the plague of darkness before Passover."