The power plant, as well as solar panels, were damaged by bombardment as Israel wanted to “deprive Gaza of electricity from all sources and make it an unlivable place,” according to the authority’s head.
A source at the Palestinian Energy Authority reported that the power plant ran out of fuel, resulting in a complete blackout in the Strip. Authority Head Dhafer Melhem reported on Wednesday that the power plant would shut down in 7 hours (at 14:30 GMT).
I received a report today stating that most of the solar cells on the roofs of homes and facilities in the Gaza Strip have been completely damaged and are unable to generate energy.
The situation has been exacerbated by the Cabinet decision in Tel Aviv under which Israel cut off electricity to Gaza since last Sunday in response to the Palestinian Hamas group’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
The conflict began with Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack of rocket launches, infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air. Hamas claims the operation is a response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem and the increase in Israeli violence against Palestinians.
In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has also cut off water and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip, worsening the already poor living conditions in the area, which has been under siege since 2007.
