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Gaza fuel shortage begins to bite Gaza blames power cut on Israel
(about 1 hour later)
The only electricity plant in Gaza has started to shut down due to a fuel shortage after Israel closed its border crossings with the Hamas-run territory. The only power plant in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has started to shut down, citing lack of fuel because of Israel's closure of border crossings.
The closure, imposed in the wake of continued rocket fire from Gaza, has brought the delivery of almost all supplies, including fuel, to a halt. The closure, imposed in the wake of continued rocket fire from Gaza, has brought the delivery of almost all supplies to a halt.
The UN says the plant's shutdown would have a devastating impact on Gaza's 1.5m inhabitants. But Israel, which supplies 60% of Gaza's power directly, has accused the Palestinians of exaggerating.
Israel says Gaza has sufficient fuel and the plant's closure is unnecessary. The UN says Gaza's 1.5m inhabitants face serious hardship.
Reports from Gaza say people are trying to stock up on candles and batteries, as well as basic foodstuffs.
One grocer in Gaza City, Sami Mousa, told the Associated Press the shopping fever would be worse except that "people don't have the money to buy".
Hospitals fearHospitals fear
The Palestinian Energy Authority said two turbines at the plant had shut early on Sunday and the plant would be closed within 24 hours. The Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA) said two turbines at the plant had shut early on Sunday and the plant would be closed within 24 hours.
GAZA'S ELECTRICITY SOURCES Gaza uses 200 megawatts of electricity annuallyIsrael supplies 60% of this, and Egypt 8.5%The remaining 32.5% is produced by Gaza's power stationIsrael supplies the fuel oil for the Gaza power station The plant's director, Rafik Maliha, said the regular fuel delivery from Israel had not arrived on Sunday because the fuel terminal, Nahal Oz, was closed and the facility had no reserves. GAZA'S ELECTRICITY SOURCES Gaza uses 200 megawatts of electricity annuallyIsrael supplies 60% of this, and Egypt 8.5%The remaining 32.5% is produced by Gaza's power stationIsrael supplies the fuel oil for the Gaza power station
The Energy Authority said more than a million Gazans would be affected by power outages, which would also hit hospitals, sewage works and food refrigeration systems. The plant's director, Rafik Maliha, said the regular fuel delivery from Israel had not arrived on Sunday because the fuel terminal, Nahal Oz, was closed and the facility had almost no reserves.
The authority told the BBC that half of Gaza's electricity needs would continue to be provided by Israel, but the loss of the power plant would be devastating. "We are going to shut down completely within hours," he said.
The PEA said power outages would hit hospitals, sewage works and food refrigeration systems.
The closure comes amid the peak winter demand for electricity.The closure comes amid the peak winter demand for electricity.
Israel says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks end
The United Nations has warned Israel's decision to keep the crossings into Gaza closed will only worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.The United Nations has warned Israel's decision to keep the crossings into Gaza closed will only worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.
Most Gazans are reliant on fuel imports and humanitarian supplies.Most Gazans are reliant on fuel imports and humanitarian supplies.
But Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said the situation was not as bad as the Palestinians made out. One pharmacist in Gaza, Maher Abu Halawa, told the BBC he was quickly running out of supplies.
"They have an interest in exaggerating," he said. "All this affects patients, especially the diabetes patients whose medicine has completely run out," he said.
Israel had reduced the flow of petrol used in cars, as well as diesel, he said, but not fuel oil and cooking gas. "Medications needed for cancer patients have also run out completely... We have also run out of children's medications, particularly vaccines."
Mr Mekel said Israel's responsibility was to its own citizens and the border closures were intended to apply pressure to the Palestinian authorities to stop militants in Gaza firing rockets at Israel. 'No shortage'
"The ball is in their court," said Mr Mekel. "If they stop the rockets today, everything would go back to normal." Shlomo Dror, a spokesman for Israel's defence ministry, insisted the power station had enough fuel to continue functioning.
Israel shut border crossings with Gaza on Thursday, amid escalating violence with Palestinian militants there. Israel says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks end
"If they shut it down, it's not because of a fuel shortage, but because they want to create the impression of a crisis," he said.
He described the closure of the power station as "not comfortable but not a humanitarian crisis".
Israel, which shut the borders on Thursday, has reduced the flow of petrol used in cars and diesel to the strip but says fuel oil and cooking gas are not affected.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said the border closures were intended to apply pressure to the Palestinian authorities to stop militants in Gaza firing rockets at Israel.
"If they stop the rockets today, everything would go back to normal," he said.
Israeli ministers meeting on Sunday decided to maintain the border closure for the time being, an unnamed source told AFP news agency.
Hamas said its attacks on Israel would not cease because of the sanctions.
"We will not raise the white flag and we will not surrender," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the London-based independent Quds Press web news agency.