Gaza's electricity protests are bold sign of dissent
Qatar pledged to donate $12 million to help ease the Gaza Strip's electricity crisis, following a wave of massive protests against Hamas' ineffectual running of the electricity sector in the Strip.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Following massive protests in the Gaza Strip over a lack of electricity, Qatar pledged on Jan. 15 to donate $12 million to purchase fuel for Gaza's sole power plant over a period of three months. Gaza's power outage crisis has culminated in recent days after three generators at the plant stopped operating, leaving residents with just four hours of power per day.
The Gaza Strip relies on three sources for electricity. The Israel Electric Corporation provides 120 megawatts daily in exchange for payment from the Palestinian Authority. This supply has not increased since 1976, even as the population in the Gaza Strip has grown to 2 million. Egypt provides the Gaza Strip with 32 MW daily, and Gaza's own power plant provides between 60 to 80 MW, though this figure is typically much lower, since the generators are often inoperable due to a lack of fuel.
The Gaza Strip needs about 400 MW per day to cover the electricity needs of its population, but at the very best it only meets 50% of that amount. The crisis has recently worsened as low temperatures hit the region, prompting residents to take to the streets Jan. 12 across the Gaza Strip to protest the crippling power shortages. But Hamas-affiliated security services dispersed the protests and launched a campaign of arrests and prosecutions targeting the organizers.
The largest protest was staged in Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, where protesters marched to the local headquarters of the electricity company run by Hamas. But the activists organizing the protest, as well as some protesters, were arrested.
