- Title: Israel reduces Gaza fuel supply after rocket attack
- Date: 26th August 2019
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (AUGUST 26, 2019) (REUTERS) MEN ON VEHICLES DRIVING IN STREET STREET POWER LINES UTILITY POLE VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN FRONT OF GAZA POWER COMPANY SIGN READING (Arabic): " GAZA GOVERNORATE POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANY." SPOKESMAN FOR THE GAZA POWER COMPANY MOHAMMAD THABET AT DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPOKESMAN FOR THE GAZA POWER COMPANY MOHAMMAD THABET, SAYING: "The Israeli government decision to reduce the amount of fuel that is received in the solar company in Gaza, it is an inhumane and unjust decision. It will have a grave impact on the lives of 2 million people in Gaza and in danger their lives. It will greatly affect vital services in the Gaza Strip such as the health facilities, education, services, water supplies, and removing solid waste and will affect many other facilities." VARIOUS OF GAZA POWER GENERATING COMPANY
- Embargoed: 9th September 2019 12:53
- Keywords: Palestinians Gaza Israel feul
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001ATUVEBR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Israel said on Monday (August 26) it was cutting by half the amount of fuel it supplies to Gaza's only power plant, in response to rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory.
Three rockets were fired from the Hamas Islamist-run enclave at southern Israel on Sunday and two were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system, the military said. There was no claim of responsibility.
After the attack, Israel launched an air strike against what the military described as a Hamas military compound. No casualties were reported on either side of the volatile border.
In a statement, COGAT, a unit in the Defence Ministry that coordinates civilian issues with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, said "cutting the amount of diesel in half will significantly reduce" the plant's output.
It said the measure, "following the firing of rockets ... and the continued violation of stability and security" will be in effect until further notice.
Gaza has long suffered from a shortage of electricity and chronic blackouts. A new power line from Israel has been proposed to alleviate the situation.
Mohammad Thabet, spokesman for the Gaza power company, described the Israeli decision as collective punishment.
Currently residents get six hours of electricity followed by 12 hours of blackout. Thabet said the fuel cuts would decrease power time to only four-hour periods.
In a series of border confrontations in recent weeks, Israel said it killed at least eight Palestinian militants who tried to infiltrate its territory.
Israeli and Egyptian blockades have brought the Gazan economy to the brink of collapse. Recent foreign aid cuts and sanctions by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas's rival in the West Bank, have worsened the situation.
(Production: Fadi Shana, Nihad Khalil, Suheir Sheikh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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