GAZA — The authorities in Gaza warned on Wednesday that electricity supply to the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave "will completely stop within hours", limiting the ability to provide basic services.
In retaliation to the Hamas attack on October 7, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday had ordered a "complete siege" of Gaza, saying he would halt the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel, CNN reported.
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In a statement on Wednesday morning, the enclave's Hamas-controlled government said: "All basic services in Gaza depend on electricity, and it will not be possible to partially operate them with generators due to the prevention of fuel supplies through the Rafah gate."
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has also said that it was forced to close all 14 of its food distribution centres in Gaza and “as a result half a million people have stopped receiving vital food aid”.
Gaza, one of the most densely populated places where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles, has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years, when Hamas seized control, reports CNN.
This prompted Israel and Egypt to impose a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing.
Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza.
More than half of the enclave's population lives in poverty and is food insecure, with nearly 80 per cent relying on humanitarian assistance.
WASHINGTON — American Airlines announced that it was cancelling all flights to Israel's main international airport until December 4 “as a result of the current operating environment".
The airline operates flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, located less than 40 miles from Gaza, reports CNN.
“We will continue working closely with our partner airlines to offer assistance to those looking to exit TLV with safety and security remaining our highest priorities,” American Airlines said in a statement late Tuesday.
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The airline said it has also “extended our travel alert providing additional flexibility to customers whose travel plans are impacted by this adjustment”.
On Monday, Delta Air Lines, which operates flights to Israel from Atlanta, JFK, and Boston, said it was canceling flights for the rest of October.
The State Department said on Tuesday that it has been encouraging airlines “to consider resuming travel in and out of Israel".
Since Israel declared a war on Hamas as retaliation against the militant group's unpredented attack on October 7, multiple airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to the Jewish nation.
While Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific canceled its Tuesday flight to and from Tel Aviv, Air Canada announced the suspension of all its flights for now.
Ireland’s Ryanair said it was canceling flights in and out of Tel Aviv until October 11, citing operational restrictions.
Air India and Lufthansa announced that they were canceling flights until October 14, and Norwegian Air said it is canceling flights until October 15.
Korean Air canceled one of its three regularly scheduled weekly flights into Tel Aviv on Monday, but the South Korean flag carrier said it is planning on flying a 218-seat plane from Tel Aviv and to Incheon on Tuesday in order to bring Korean nationals back home.