Palestinian NGOs condemn cut in electricity supply to Gaza

The Council of Palestinian Human Rights Groups condemned on Tuesday the Israeli cut in electricity supply to the Gaza Strip, Shehab news agency has reported.

The NGO umbrella body warned the international community of the “dangerous consequences” of Israel’s move. It could lead to a “humanitarian disaster” in the coastal enclave, it insisted, which has been experiencing “unprecedented” humanitarian difficulties.

Calling for the international community to take steps to end the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip, the council suggested that funds could be provided to buy the fuel needed for the sole Gaza power station to operate at even a minimum level. The power plant was bombed by Israel in 2014 and spare parts have been blocked by the Israeli-led siege of the coastal enclave.

Read: Israel begins reducing Gaza electricity supply

The Israeli cabinet agreed last week to reduce the electricity sold by Israeli companies to Gaza by 15 per cent, saying that this was requested by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. The NGOs’ organisation asked the Fatah-controlled PA to clarify what the Israeli authorities have alleged about Ramallah’s request to stop supplying electricity to the territory, the de facto government of which is Fatah’s main rival, Hamas.

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The council said that the international community should respect international law by ensuring that Israel, as the occupying power, as well as the PA are respecting human rights. The cut in electricity supply, it argued, puts the inherent right to a decent life at risk.