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'PA ignoring international efforts to resolve Gaza power crisis'

May 29, 2017 at 5:46 pm

Many international bodies have tried to intervene to resolve the Gaza Strip’s electricity crisis but the Palestinian Authority has failed to respond, the enclave’s power authority has said.

he deputy chairman of the Gaza power authority, Fathi Sheikh Khalil, said the Energy Authority has made great efforts so the Palestinian Authority would resume supplying the enclave with the fuel needed to operate the power plant and alleviate the crisis that has impacted all aspects of life in the sector.

Sheikh Khalil explained at a press conference held yesterday at the Government Information Office in Gaza that “several meetings have been held with various parties, especially the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, and his assistant Robert Piper.”

Read: Israel to cut electricity supply to Gaza

He noted that the power authority in Gaza has responded to all the conditions placed by the Palestinian Authority to agree to resolve the electricity crisis “without receiving any response from the officials in the West Bank”.

According to Sheikh Khalil the PA has demanded an increase in fees which would contribute to the cost of incoming power to the Gaza Strip in addition to appointing neutral parties to inspect the Electricity Distribution Company’s work.

He pointed out that the electricity crisis, which began in April has continued because of the PA’s decision to impose excessive taxes on fuel used in the operation of the power plant.

He called on human rights organisations to file lawsuits with local and international courts to prosecute those responsible for the continuation of the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, adding that the Israeli occupation has the legal responsibility for the damages caused to the residents of the Gaza Strip in accordance with international laws and the United Nations Charter.

Read: Gaza heading for serious water crisis, warns official