The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network condemns Israel’s cutting of electricity to Gaza as an act of collective punishment, and an escalation of its ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
This is not just a humanitarian crisis – it is a calculated war crime and a violation of international law, and yet the Australian government remains silent.
Israel announced it would “cut off power to Gaza” during the weekend, however electricity to Gaza has been cut off since 11 October 2023, with power only restored to a desalination plant near Deir Balah, central Gaza, in November 2024.
Israel is now deliberately depriving Palestinians of power to run this desalination plant, hampering access to clean water for 600,000 Palestinians, as part of a broader system of genocide and apartheid, which aims to control and erase Palestinian life.
This comes following more than 900 Israeli violations of the ceasefire, and a drastic tightening of Israel’s siege.
Since early March, Israel has halted the entry of vital humanitarian aid, food, medical supplies and fuel. Its ongoing denial of essential resources, combined with its imposed electricity blackout, has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with communities facing hunger, dehydration, cold, illness and death.
Governments across the globe, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia – as well as UN agencies and experts, and human rights organisations such as Amnesty and Human Rights Watch – have publicly condemned Israel’s most recent waves of collective punishment of Palestinians.
However, Australia has not yet issued a public statement condemning these crimes, nor has it imposed sanctions on those responsible for Israel’s genocide, or imposed a two-way arms embargo, to ensure it meets it legal obligations not to aid or assist Israel to commit genocide, illegal occupation and apartheid.
APAN demands the Australian government immediately:
- Publicly and unequivocally condemn Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians and demand full restoration of electricity and humanitarian aid.
- Impose sanctions and arms embargo on Israel.
- Support international legal action against Israeli officials responsible for war crimes and genocide.
Australia cannot claim to stand for human rights while remaining silent in the face of collective punishment, apartheid and genocide.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“Israel’s decision to cut electricity to Gaza isn’t just a blackout – it’s a calculated attempt to punish, break the spirit of, and eliminate an entire population.
“Israel’s tightening siege and blockade on food, medicine, fuel and other essentials, combined with its ongoing violent attacks against Palestinians in Gaza, are heinous violations of the ceasefire agreement and the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures.
“In fact, the International Criminal Court has established reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant are criminally responsible for using starvation as a method of warfare, and for committing crimes against humanity.
“This rogue state has made it perfectly clear, over almost 18 months now, that it will not stop unless the international community makes it stop.
“This is collective punishment and a war crime. The Australian government’s continued silence, inaction, and unwilling to apply pressure on its ally Israel only deepen its complicity in this ongoing genocide.”