Power Outages Rage in Gaza

Cutting off essential services like electricity to the civilian population in Gaza is a serious breach to international humanitarian law.

Salem-News.com writer's names on the separation wall in Gaza.

(GAZA) - On the 19th of September 2007 Israel further tightened its blockade against the Palestinians in Gaza by disrupting and reducing their already limited supply of electricity.

Tel-Aviv’s decision to besiege the civilians in the tiny coastal enclave has disrupted all aspects of life for a population whose number has now exceeded 1.7 million.

The health sector, water and sewage treatment plants among other vital services are heavily disrupted by the energy crisis.

Power outages of up to 18 hours a day have turned the life of most Gazans into a living hell.

Electricity is on for 6 to 8 hours and then it is cut for 8 to 10 hours on a daily basis all over the Gaza Strip.

Some people turn to small electrical generators, but not everyone can afford to buy them or even buy the expensive Israeli fuel to operate them.

According to health care providers power outages have taken their toll on sick people especially those with chronic diseases.

The recent Egyptian military crackdown on tunnels between Gaza and Egypt has deteriorated the problem.

Gaza’s sole power generating plant is currently working at half of its capacity due to lack of diesel fuel that used to come via the tunnels with Egypt.

The economy in Gaza has also felt the pinch of the power cuts.

Some businesses have lost many of their customers who are unable to shop in dark stores.

Israeli troops withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but Tel-Aviv has kept its tight grip on the territory leaving the people here confined to the world’s biggest open-air prison.

Cutting off essential services like electricity to the civilian population in Gaza is a serious breach to international humanitarian law.