Israel ordered an immediate halt to Gaza's electricity supply Sunday in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages, even as it prepared for fresh talks on the future of its truce with the Palestinian militants.

Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, officials said Sunday, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water for part of the arid territory. Hamas called it part of Israel's “starvation policy.

The Israeli government's move comes a week after it blocked all aid supplies to the war-torn Palestinian territory.

Israel announced Sunday it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza. The full effects were not immediately clear, but the arid territory's desalination plants receive power for producing drinking water.

By Palestine Chronicle Staff Israel has cut off electricity to Gaza, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis as part of its ongoing blockade. Israel announced on Sunday that it is cutting off its electricity

Israel will cut the flow of electricity in the Gaza Strip immediately, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said in a statement Sunday.

Israel’s energy minister said he had given instructions to stop supplying electricity to Gaza a week after Israel blocked all aid into the Palestinian territory.

Israel announced on Sunday it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza. It comes after it cut all supplies of goods to the crisis-ravaged Palestinian territory last week. The full effects were not immediately clear,