Gaza's Sole Power Plant Shuts Down Over Lack Of Fuel

Gaza's sole power plant will shut down on Saturday due to lack of fuel, the territory's energy authority said.

"The plant will stop working due to inability to import fuel," the authority said in a statement.

According to the statement, 500 megawatts are needed to fulfil Gaza's electricity needs.

"Only 120 megawatts are currently available in Gaza imported directly from Israel," it said, adding that electricity service will be available for only four hours.

Israel has closed the Karam Abu Salem crossing, Gaza's only commercial route, as part of restrictions amid tension with Islamic Jihad group following the detention of a senior group leader in the occupied West Bank on Monday.

Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Friday citing "imminent threat of attack" by Islamic Jihad group. At least 11 Palestinians were killed and 80 others injured in the attacks.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents experience regular power shortages and last week received only an average of 10 hours of electricity per day, according to data from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar -