GAZA CITY: The Gaza Strip was hit by major power cuts late yesterday, threatening a blackout throughout the territory within 24 hours, Palestinian officials said.
“More than 30 percent of the electricity supply in the Gaza Strip could not be guaranteed this evening,” Jamal Al-Kudari, head of a committee campaigning to end Israeli sanctions, told AFP.
“The town is at risk of being left completely without electricity within 24 hours because our fuel reserves are on the verge of being exhausted,” he said.
Kaalan Obeid, vice-chairman of Gaza’s energy authority, said: “We have reduced power supply by 33 percent this evening and, in the absence of fuel, electricity will be cut off completely in the whole region” from 1600 GMT today. An Israeli army spokesman said “all crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip were closed yesterday following Palestinian firing of rockets toward the south of Israel.” Peter Lerner, coordinator of Israeli activities in the Palestinian territories, said: “We received a request (from the Palestinians) for deliveries of fuel to resume and we forwarded the request to the defense ministry” in Tel Aviv.
Most of the fuel and gas supplies needed by the Gaza Strip usually goes through the Nahal Oz terminal between Israel and the Palestinian territory.
A flare-up of violence last week has threatened a truce brokered by Egypt in June between Israel and Hamas which controls the impoverished Gaza Strip.
— With input from agencies
