Defense committee chair wants to reduce Gaza’s electricity, water

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman, MK Ze’ev Elkin, argues that Israel should pressure Hamas by reducing the electricity and water supply to the Gaza Strip.If such a move brings an end to the rocket fire, it would be a far more humane means of squeezing Hamas than a potential Israeli ground invasion, Elkin argues.

MK Zee'v Elkin (LIkud), chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in the Knesset on Monday, May 12, 2014. (photo credit: Flash 90)
MK Zee’v Elkin (LIkud), chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, in the Knesset, May 12, 2014 (photo credit: Flash90)

“This operation must reach a point that Hamas is hurt enough to bring quiet to southern residents,” he tells Army Radio this afternoon.

“If there is no choice, we’ll launch a ground operation. But we have to consider pressuring [Hamas] with other tools. We continue to provide electricity and water to Gaza. [Reducing the supply of both] would be more humane than a ground invasion, which would lead to significant deaths on our side and theirs.”