As a result of the Hamas attack on 7 October, Israel shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza. The sole remaining power station, the 60-140 MW oil fired Gaza Power plant, was reported as running out of fuel on 11 October.
At other times almost all of Gaza's fuel and about half of its electricity is supplied by Israel. These supplies are not automatically subject to the continuing blockade of the Gaza Strip, although limitations apply.
However, versions differ. Gaza’s authorities say ‘all basic life services’ are at risk after Israel’s ‘total siege’ of the Hamas-run enclave, and the Gaza power authority has said the enclave’s sole power plant will run out of fuel soon, leaving the territory without electricity after Israel cut off supplies.
The ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip warned on 24 October that the electric generators in hospitals will cease functioning within the next 48 hours due to the fuel shortage, and intensified air raids by Israel on the besieged enclave.
Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said in a brief statement that the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza is “slow and cannot change the reality” on the ground.
On 23 October, the ministry said 32 health centres were out of service after Israel cut off access to essential supplies, including fuel. It added that the immediate needs of hospitals must be prioritised in terms of aid distribution, urging the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to push for the delivery of supplies of fuel and blood units into the enclave.
Image courtesy of Reuters
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