The Hamas movement released a statement holding the
government of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its president Mahmoud Abbas responsible
for the dire electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhum claimed that the ongoing
crisis was “intentional” and aimed “to close the siege on Gaza and create
chaos.”
Barhum demanded that Abbas and the Fatah movement end “this
dangerous policy” and end the crisis, which has left Gaza with less than half
of its needed electricity, and to “adopt all the needs of the Gaza Strip.”
Barhus stressed Hamas’ “clear positions on standing with
Gazans and adopting all of their needs and demands.”
Protests and clashes have erupted in the besieged coastal
enclave over the past two days, as residents call on all relevant authorities
to find a permanent solution to the protracted issue, which has seriously
affected Palestinians suffering under the nearly decade-long Israeli blockade.
In a statement released, Gaza’s electricity company said
that most districts of the small Palestinian territory were only receiving
power for three-hour intervals in between 12-hour power cuts, due to severe
fuel shortages.
Even at full capacity, Egyptian and Israeli electricity
grids, together with Gaza's sole power plant, fail to cover the Gaza Strip’s
energy needs.
Hamas -- the de facto ruling party in Gaza -- has governed
the Gaza Strip since winning the majority of votes in a 2006 election in the
besieged coastal enclave. Following Hamas’, which the Israeli government
considers a “terrorist organization,” takeover of Gaza, Israel imposed a crippling
blockade on the territory.
As the blockade enters its 10th year, and the population of
Gaza exceeds 2 million Palestinians according to UN estimates, the severe
electricity shortages have exacerbated the already dire living conditions in the
small Palestinian territory.
War has also taken its toll, and during Israel's 50-day
offensive on Gaza in 2014, the power plant was targeted, completely knocking it
out of commission.
The UN has warned that the Gaza Strip would become
uninhabitable for residents by 2020, pointing to the devastation of war and
nearly a decade of Israel's blockade.
Compiled by Jedidiah
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