(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
In response to media inquiries regarding power outages in Gaza, the Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman stated Sunday evening (20 January 2008):
The supply of electricity to Gaza from the Israeli and Egyptian power grids (124 Megawatts and 17 Megawatts respectively) has continued uninterrupted. These 141 Megawatts of power represents about three quarters of Gaza's electricity needs.
Minister of National Infrastructures Binyamin Ben Eliezer at the Herzliya Conference (21 Jan): "We are the only state where the consumer aims its missiles every morning towards the country that provides most of its energy."
While the fuel supply from Israel into Gaza has indeed been reduced, due to the Hamas rocket attacks, the diversion of this fuel from domestic power generators to other uses is wholly a Hamas decision - apparently taken due to media and propaganda considerations.
Noteworthy is the fact that while the Gaza population remains in the dark, the fuel generating power to the Hamas rocket manufacturing industry continues to flow unabated.
Defense Minister Barak on Tuesday (22 January) authorized the entry of limited supplies into the Gaza Strip including cooking gas, 500,000 liters of diesel fuel for generators, primarily for hospitals, 2.2 million liters of industrial fuel for power plants, and 50 trucks of humanitarian aid.
The Hamas claim of humanitarian crisis in Gaza is also greatly exaggerated. There is no shortage of basic foodstuffs, and Gaza patients who need treatment in Israeli hospitals continue to travel into Israel for care.
Photo: Reuters
Original caption: Palestinian lawmakers attend a parliament session in candlelight during a power cut in Gaza January 22, 2008
In fact, the photograph is staged, as curtains are drawn to block out the daylight.