Still less power than usual – so that people have to fight in the sealed-off Gaza strip. The cause of a dispute between the Palestinian authority and the rival Hamas. Tania Krämer from Gaza.
In the middle of the hot summer, the people living in Israel and Egypt blockaded the Gaza strip with even less power than usual. A political dispute between the rival Hamas in the Gaza strip and the Palestinian authority in the West Bank is further escalated. In the last days there were only a few hours of electricity. The only power plant had already set in April, his operation for lack of fuel.
Since then, Gaza was of a few megawatts of electricity-dependent, the flows from the network of Israel and Egypt, and in the coastal strip. A fuel delivery out of Egypt is now to create something to remedy the situation, apparently, had agreed Egypt and Hamas in the last few days. The pictures of the tank trucks, which travel via the Rafah crossing to Gaza, but only a weak consolation. Many in Gaza fear that this is only a temporary solution for the ongoing crisis.
An Egyptian tanker with Diesel for the Gaza border from Egypt crossed into the Gaza strip
“The Situation is becoming more and more difficult. It would be desirable if our so-called politicians would be represented in Gaza and the West Bank, the interests of their people, rather than representing only their own interests,” says Maisa Sultan. The young woman lives in the Jabaliya district of Gaza city and provides first your washing machine. Just the electricity came. The young mother of five children, must hurry: you must do all of the, for which electricity is required. Washing clothes, drinking water, procure, showers, the fridge for a short time to do.
Chronic Power Outages
If power is out, you, like many others, on a homemade System of batteries, which provide enough energy for small light bulbs with LED light. Others use generators for a few hours. And those who can afford it, install Solar Panels. In spite of all the difficulties, most of the take here, the Situation in Gaza is so typical of patience.
At night time the only light source in the Gaza strip: candles
In the office of the world health authority WHO Mahmoud sits and explains with a quiet voice, as the current crisis has affected the already ailing health sector. “We are really Worried. The health system is completely dependent on an adequate power supply,” says. Most of the hospitals be supplied by generators that fill in when the power goes out. “But it also means that the hospitals can no longer provide any Service but only to the absolutely necessary,” says. The financing of fuel for the generators was secured to about the middle of July.
Electricity as a means of exerting political pressure
Daily interruptions in the supply of power up to 12 hours of daily life in the Gaza strip for many years. The current crisis goes back to an escalating dispute between Hamas and the Palestinian authority. In April, the authority had suddenly demanded higher taxes on fuel, which is required for the power plant in Gaza. The power plant had to stop its operation. After that, the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip hung on a few current that is delivered over the network from Israel and Egypt. Israel, however, provides only about 25% of the daily needs in Gaza – since then, there were only four to 5 hours of electricity a day. President Abbas in Ramallah, then demanded of Israel, also to reduce this power – he no longer wanted to pay Gaza’s bill alone. Observers interpret this step as an attempt to put pressure on Hamas to exercise Power in Gaza.
Had to stop production in April for lack of Fuel: the only power plant of Gaza
This week, reduced Israel to the power supply. In the middle of the week, only two to three hours of power remained with the people. And in spite of warnings from the Israeli military and by observers, that this step would further inflame the already tense Situation further. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Situation as the result of an “internal Palestinian dispute”.
Armed on the backs of the citizens
Warnings of a humanitarian crisis by the special envoy of the United Nations, Nikolay Mladenov, to take care of the actors. “Since 2007 since Hamas who took Power, paid for by the Palestinian authority, the electricity in Gaza,” said government spokesman Tareq Rishmawi in Ramallah. “Hamas should accept the Initiative of the President and all government institutions to the ‘government of national consensus’.” Shortly before the outbreak of the dispute, Hamas had formed, apparently, a political Committee to govern the Affairs of government in Gaza. A step that had fanned the flames of the bitter political dispute.
Deliver many at least a few hours of electricity a day: privately operated generators
Hamas is also under pressure, because with Qatar, an important political and financial Sponsor threatening way to break The small Gulf state is currently under huge pressure from its neighboring countries, support the country accuse Islamist groups in the Region. After the war between Hamas and Israel in 2014, Qatar helped in the reconstruction, roads and hospitals repaired, salaries paid, and it has helped in the purchase of fuel for the power plant. “The people should protest against the people behind the Blockade, and you should remain in the crisis, steadfast,” says Hasem Qassem, Hamas spokesman in Gaza city.
Growing frustration among the inhabitants
For years, the people meet in Gaza stoically any Problem with the you have to fight in Gaza. Ten years ago, Hamas has had the Power, since then, Israel and Egypt have sealed the coastal strip. The borders are most of the time, travel is almost hardly possible. The unemployment rate is over 40 percent. In Gaza, the Islamist Hamas controls the territory, with an increasingly heavy Hand. Among the population there is growing Frustration over the impasse. “The people here are really tired and exhausted, and economically, everything is anyway down the drain,” says Ahmed Abu Hasira, the errands on the Omar al Mukhtar makes road. Another Passer-by who does not want his name says annoyed: “you Should turn off everything. Enough is enough.”