Gaza fighting interrupts fuel deliveries and electricity is cut
Gaza’s main power plant had to reduce electrical output Wednesday because Israeli fuel deliveries were curtailed over the last two days due to fighting. The Israeli military closed Nahal Oz, the sole border crossing where fuel is delivered from Israel to the Gaza Strip, for a good part of the day because of firing near the crossing.
The plant’s electrical output was lowered to 40-45 MW on Wednesday.
Dr. Rafiq Maliha, Deputy Director of the Gaza Power and Electricity Company, confirmed on Wednesday evening that events in the area during the last two days had prevented the arrival of full quantities of fuel that were supposed to be delivered, according to the new schedule he had just received.
The Gaza power plant depleted all useable fuel reserves on 5 January, after trying to keep two turbines running in order to provide 60-65 MW of electricity a day, despite fuel cuts imposed by the Israeli military on 28 October.
Now, we are just running on what we receive”, Dr. Maliha said.
Somewhat increased amounts of industrial diesel fuel had been delivered on Sunday and Monday, following a decision taken by the Israeli Deputy Minister of Defense the previous week, which enabled the power plant to raise its electrical output to 55 MW continuously for a few days, until Wednesday.
If adequate amounts of fuel arrive on Thursday, the power plant will boost production accordingly. If not, it will have to conserve what it has for Friday and Saturday, when there normally are no Israeli fuel deliveries. In that case, Gaza’s power plant faces a possible shut down of one of its two presently-functioning units – and a further reduction in output to only 25 or 30 MW of electricity – until more fuel can be delivered.
Dr. Maliha expressed utter frustration on Tuesday that Gaza’s power plant has to work always, now, “at the red line.” He asked, “Why are we receiving fuel only on a daily basis?”
Sari Bashi, the Executive Director of GISHA, who has worked at the forefront of the effort to try to get the Israeli High Court of Justice to intervene, reported Wednesday evening that “a technical problem with one of the lines bringing electricity from Israel has kept thousands in Gaza City in complete darkness since Monday around midnight. And tonight, again, temperatures in Gaza will be 5-7 degrees Celcius”.
Filed under: Gaza, Israel, Middle East Peace Process, Palestine & Palestinians
for the last 7 years palastinian ewxtrinmist groups fire QASSAM missiles targeting civilllian towns and the power plant in askelon that supplies elctririty to gaza strip.
the IDF doesnt target civill population but the attackers hid in civil areas – because they know that the IDF will not target intantioly. but the exrimist palastinians dont care.
israel want peace nd withrew her citizens and the IDF out of GAZA at 2005. but the HAMAS and ISLAMIC JIHAD want that the israeli army will come again – so they can kill and hurt Israelis.
as an israeli that supported the peace i dont want to fight – but will figt to defend my self. most israelis thinks the same.
Yes. I have discussed these “projectile” attacks — Qassam and other rocket varieties, mortars, and missiles — with a good number of Palestinians, and many of them tell me that these attacks are justified in response to the Israeli attacks. I strongly disagree, and have said so many times. The Palestinians should be better, and not only because they are the weaker party, militarily (though as victims, they have a stronger moral position).
Personally, and with enormous regret, because what this means is unfortunately totally predictable, I have to admit I understand that Israel needs to protect its citizens from these attacks. These attacks are indiscriminate, and designed to cause fear — a balance of fear, as one Hamas leader said recently.
Also personally, I think the best way to do that is to stop these massive Israeli reprisals (which are in response to Palestinan reprisals,, which are in response to Israeli attacks, etc.) is for both sides (or all sides) to move quickly to a negotiated agreement, to stop all this. This should have been done years ago, even decades ago. It should be now done immediately.
The IDF says they don’t “intentionally” target civilians, but they know very well that when they attack crowded areas, there is a very high chance of civilian casualties.
This business of Palestinian attackers hiding in civilian areas is a bit of nonsense propaganda — and has been since it was first widely used as an accusation against Palestinians during Ariel Sharon’s 1982 seige of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. The Palestinians are where they live, and they have nowhere else to go. Many times they are caught by suprise in IDF attacks.
Look at the photos of Mahoud’s dead son, killed this week — he was not wearing a uniform.
It is simply not true that Israel left Gaza on its own after the 2005 “disengagement”. Israel’s occupation has never ended. Israel exerts total and effective control over the Gaza Strip, and over the West Bank as well.