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Power Cuts Prompt Palestinians to Take to Gaza Streets in Largest Protests in Years Power Cuts Prompt Palestinians to Take to Gaza Streets in Largest Protests in Years
(about 2 hours later)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Several hundred Palestinians demonstrated in central Gaza on Monday evening over increasing power cuts, the latest in a series of protests that appear to have erupted over the issue.GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Several hundred Palestinians demonstrated in central Gaza on Monday evening over increasing power cuts, the latest in a series of protests that appear to have erupted over the issue.
The demonstrations, which began Saturday in Rafah, a southern city in the Gaza Strip, have emerged as the largest in years. Still, it is uncertain if the protesters can sustain their momentum, and it is unclear if they will pose a challenge to Gaza’s Hamas rulers. The demonstrations, which began Saturday in Rafah, a southern city in the Gaza Strip, are the largest in years. Still, it is uncertain if the protesters can sustain their momentum, and it is unclear if they will pose a challenge to Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
Cuts in electricity are just one of many hardships that Palestinians have endured in recent years, including unrelenting poverty and unemployment amidvirtual imprisonment in the coastal strip because of restrictions by neighboring Egypt and Israel. Cuts in electricity are just one of many hardships that Palestinians have endured in recent years, including unrelenting poverty and unemployment amid virtual imprisonment in the coastal strip because of restrictions by neighboring Egypt and Israel.
And there were three wars with Israel. Yet for three days, hundreds of Palestinians have emerged on the streets to protest the shortages, which have left them with a shaky supply of four to six hours of power a day — when they are lucky.And there were three wars with Israel. Yet for three days, hundreds of Palestinians have emerged on the streets to protest the shortages, which have left them with a shaky supply of four to six hours of power a day — when they are lucky.
“We are sick of this life!” chanted hundreds of men at the Monday demonstration in the Bureij refugee camp. They tried to march to the nearby electricity distribution office, but were stopped by Hamas riot police.“We are sick of this life!” chanted hundreds of men at the Monday demonstration in the Bureij refugee camp. They tried to march to the nearby electricity distribution office, but were stopped by Hamas riot police.
Palestinians have tolerated rolling blackouts for years. But over the summer, power was reduced even more.Palestinians have tolerated rolling blackouts for years. But over the summer, power was reduced even more.
Gaza receives less than 50 percent of its electricity through lines from Israel and Egypt, and from its local power plant.Gaza receives less than 50 percent of its electricity through lines from Israel and Egypt, and from its local power plant.
The latest shortages appear to have occurred after deterioration in the lines from Egypt, said Nathan Thrall, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, which closely monitors Gaza. Mr. Thrall added that Israel closed its commercial crossing with Gaza for Rosh Hashana, which meant that the power plant received less fuel. The last protest of note in Gaza involved several dozen people in April. It was the only significant demonstration against Hamas in more than four years.The latest shortages appear to have occurred after deterioration in the lines from Egypt, said Nathan Thrall, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, which closely monitors Gaza. Mr. Thrall added that Israel closed its commercial crossing with Gaza for Rosh Hashana, which meant that the power plant received less fuel. The last protest of note in Gaza involved several dozen people in April. It was the only significant demonstration against Hamas in more than four years.
But the protesters have no clear target for their ire. They are ruled by Hamas, which is in rivalry with the government of President Mahmoud Abbas, which presides over Palestinian communities in the West Bank.But the protesters have no clear target for their ire. They are ruled by Hamas, which is in rivalry with the government of President Mahmoud Abbas, which presides over Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Israel also still controls passage over its border with Gaza as well as exports and imports. Egypt has largely shut down its border crossing as well as the hundreds of tunnels that once crisscrossed the border and were used to bring goods into Gaza that Israel had tightly restricted.Israel also still controls passage over its border with Gaza as well as exports and imports. Egypt has largely shut down its border crossing as well as the hundreds of tunnels that once crisscrossed the border and were used to bring goods into Gaza that Israel had tightly restricted.
“The situation is different from other Arab countries, because there they could go out and say the people want the fall of the regime. It was clear there was a people, and a regime,” said Ibrahim Abrach, who teaches political science at Al Azhar University. “Here, the situation isn’t clear.”“The situation is different from other Arab countries, because there they could go out and say the people want the fall of the regime. It was clear there was a people, and a regime,” said Ibrahim Abrach, who teaches political science at Al Azhar University. “Here, the situation isn’t clear.”
Hamas and Israeli officials did not respond to requests for comment on the electricity shortages.Hamas and Israeli officials did not respond to requests for comment on the electricity shortages.