JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL

Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by families of Israeli captives in Gaza demanding the restoration of electricity supply to the blockaded enclave.

“Israel is under no obligation to provide electricity to Gaza,” Judge Alex Stein said in his verdict.

He argued that the electricity supply to Gaza was not subject to a judicial review but to a decision of the political leadership.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen hailed the court verdict, claiming that cutting off electricity to Gaza is “a right decision from a security and moral perspective.”

“Only continued and escalating pressure on Hamas would help to bring the hostages back and to ensure that Hamas will not be in Gaza,” he added on X.

Last month, Israel cut off electricity supply to Gaza amid efforts to tighten a stifling blockade on the enclave despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

More than 50,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.