In a rare show of understanding of reality, Hamas on Friday issued a statement warning the Israeli government there would be “consequences,” should it reduce electric supply to the Gaza Strip.
The announcement came following a statement from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Major General Yoav Mordechai, who told BBC in Arabic on Thursday that Israel would reduce electricity supply to Gaza, on the request of the Palestinian Authority.
The PA, which pays Gaza’s 40 $11 million monthly electric bill from Israel, has asked Israel to reduce electric supply to Gaza which is paid out of the taxes and tolls Israel collects for the PA. Indeed, the PA has expressed its outrage last month when Israel, ignoring its request, continued to provide the same amount of electricity as usual to the Gazan population.
The PA initially notified Israel it stopped paying for electricity from the Jewish State to Gaza altogether, but later statements appear to mention a reduction rather than a full stop.
The PA move is part of its attempt to regain control of the strip through the repression of the civilian population.
The collapsing Egyptian power lines, combined with Israeli electric grids and Gaza’s shut down power plant, are far from meeting the Gaza Strip’s energy need.