Energy Minister Yisrael Katz addressed reports of requests to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. He issued a statement saying: "Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will go up, water faucet opened, or fuel truck enter until the Israeli captives are returned home. Humanitarian for humanitarian. And no-one should preach morality to us." As already reported, after Shabbat, Katz signed an order instructing the Electrical Company to stop providing electricity to the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip.
It was earlier reported that in light of the cessation of humanitarian aid to Gaza, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres asked Israel to allow the entry of fuel, food, and water into Gaza. He said that "Crucial life-saving supplies — including fuel, food and water — must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now." He also called on Israel and Hamas to allow access to provide access to UN teams, to provide aid to the "trapped and helpless" Palestinian citizens.
