Israel will immediately cut off the flow of electricity to Gaza, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen ordered Sunday. Critics blasted the measure as ineffective politicking.

Israel will stop supplying electricity to Gaza "immediately," Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced on Sunday. "We will activate every tool we have to ensure our hostages return home and Hamas is not in Gaza after the war," he said. Cohen signed the order to stop the flow of electricity to Gaza shortly after the announcement.

Israel’s energy minister said Sunday that he would immediately cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip, in an apparent effort to pressure Hamas on negotiations after the first phase of a ceasefire deal expired on March 1.