Israel Transfers Fuel to PA to Run Gaza Power Plant

Despite the ever-looming terror threat from Hamas, Israel remains concerned for Gaza’s civilian and humanitarian needs. 

Israel transferred half a million liters of industrial fuel to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to run the Gaza Strip power station.

Israel Radio reported that the fuel was sent via the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, which was specially opened for the transfer over the weekend. Qatar announced last month that it would pay for the purchase of fuel from Israel via the PA for a period of three months.

Gaza has long been suffering power shortages, primarily the result of inner Palestinian fighting. Gaza’s power plant, together with Egyptian and Israeli electricity grids, fails to cover the territory’s energy needs and has suffered chronic fuel shortages.

While Hamas utilizes electricity around the clock for its terror tunnels, Gaza residents are left with just a few hours of electricity a day.

In the meantime, Israel provides more than 125 megawatts of electricity to the Gaza Strip annually, which constitutes more than half of the electrical power supply. Furthermore, Israel supplies about 10 million cubic meters of water a year.

There are 10 power lines connecting Israel and the Gaza Strip as well as three water lines that were recently approved to transfer an additional 10 million cubic meters of water annually.

Over the past month, Israel has transferred a total of 304,623 tons of materials into Gaza, including 5,427 tons of Gas, 21,962 tons of diesel and 3,361 tons of petrol, according to data presented by the IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

By: United with Israel Staff