Israeli Fuel Supplies Cut Off of Gaza Strip, as a Collective Punishment, Leaving 1.5 Million Palestinians Without Electricity

Fuel supplies to Gaza Strip to be reinstated from Sunday

Date: 18 / 08 / 2007 Time: 17:27

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

The Palestinian government stated on Saturday that the supply of fuel to the Gaza Strip will resume on Sunday morning.

The spokesperson of the Palestinian government, Minister of Information Dr Riyad Al-Maliki said that "the resumption of the fuel supply comes as a result of great efforts exerted by the Palestinian government on the Israelis, in order to avoid a real crisis, which may terminate the steadfastness of the Strip".

The Israelis announced on Thursday morning that they would stop supplying fuel to the Gaza Strip, specifically to the electricity generating station. The announcement followed the discovery of a tunnel near the Ash Shuja'iyya / Nahal 'Oz warehouse area. Following the discovery, Israeli authorities declared the area "a closed military zone", preventing fuel tankers from delivering their fuel load.

"While the Hamas movement remained with their hands folded, the Palestinian government exerted a great effort aimed to secure the resumption of fuel supply to the Gaza Strip," stated the Palestinian minister of information to Ma'an.

One of the two main power generators in Gaza Strip was completely disabled as a result of the recent Israeli decision to cut off the fuel supply. As a result, the Gaza Strip remained at half capacity of power generation.

The minister of information alleged that the Hamas movement had "taken control of the electricity company and replaced its administration, in addition to collecting delayed bills from the citizens and using the money for their own interests." He denied the accusations leveled against the Palestinian government of being behind the power cut in the Gaza Strip.

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