Gaza’s sole power station stops working as fuel runs out, after Israel orders ‘complete’ blockade
By Ibrahim Dahman, CNN
Gaza (CNN) — Gaza’s only power station has stopped working after the fuel needed for generating electricity ran out on Wednesday, Gaza officials said.
“Gaza is currently without power,” the head of the Gaza power authority, Galal Ismail, told CNN.
The power plant’s shutdown comes two days after the Israeli government said it would order a “complete siege” of the Palestinian enclave, closing off access to electricity, food, fuel and water in response to the surprise attack launched by Hamas on Israel that killed at least 1,200 people.
People in Gaza still use power generators for electricity, but with a blockade on all sides of the border, the fuel needed for generators to work is running out, Ismail said.
The Hamas-controlled coastal enclave has been hammered by Israeli airstrikes that have killed more than 1,000 people and wounded more than 5,000 others. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it is targeting Hamas terrorists, but the densely populated nature of Gaza – 2 million people living in 140 square miles – means that civilians are often caught in the crossfire.
The result has been a humanitarian crisis that has displaced more than 236,000 Gazans, according to the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. That number is expected to rise further.
Israel also seems to have removed some of its previous guardrails on its rules of engagement meant to protect civilians. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday that he had “released all restraints” on the IDF in their fight against Hamas.
The-CNN-Wire
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