The families of Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip filed an urgent petition to the Supreme Court demanding that Energy Minister Eli Cohen's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza be overturned.

The petition states that this decision directly and immediately threatens the lives, health, and safety of the detainees. The petition was submitted by attorneys Morn Sporai and Gonen Ben-Yitzhak, and includes 47 petitioners, including family members of current and former captives, families of detainees in the Gaza Strip, families of detainees killed in captivity, and released prisoners or their family members.

The petitioners asserted that the decision to completely halt electricity supply to the Gaza Strip was taken without proper authority, without prior consultation with relevant authorities, without examining the direct and indirect consequences of the decision on the lives of the captives, and in complete and deliberate disregard for recommendations from the military and security agencies, which emphasized that cutting off electricity threatens the lives of the captives and soldiers stationed in the Gaza Strip.

It stated: “Without electricity, it is impossible to operate water purification systems, refrigerate life-saving medicines, operate essential medical equipment, or provide basic living conditions for detainees, a number of whom were injured on the day of their abduction, and some of whom suffer from chronic illnesses that require ongoing medical treatment.”

The petitioners asserted that this decision violates the fundamental rights to life and respect for human rights, constitutes a violation of the state's duty to protect the lives of its citizens, and is inconsistent with international humanitarian law.

In addition to overturning the Energy Minister's decision, the petitioners are requesting the court issue a precautionary order to immediately restore electricity supply to the Gaza Strip, pending a decision on their petition. They are also requesting that the defendants consider the consequences for detainees of any decisions they make regarding civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.