Ref: 100/2007

Date: 21 August 2007

Time: 11:00 GMT

Gaza Engulfed by Darkness

Stop Collective Punishment against the Civilian Population

PCHR expresses deep concern over the continued deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as a result in power shortages affecting half the Strip’s population. The power shortage is the result of halting the flow of fuel to Gaza’s lone power plant. The Centre calls upon Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and the international community, especially the European Union, to fulfill their humanitarian responsibility towards the civilian population, and to provide urgent fuel supplies to the power station. The restoration of electricity to the Gaza Strip is essential to avert a catastrophe affecting all aspects of civilian life including drinking water supply, sewage and waste water disposal, and environmental safety.

It is noted that on 16 August 2007 and for alleged security reasons, IOF closed Nahal Oz crossing that supplies the Gaza Strip with fuel, including special fuel for the Strip’s only power plant. The crossing was reopened on 19 August 2007. However, the Israeli fuel supplier “Dor Alon” stopped the flow of daily supply of 270 tons of special fuel for the power plant. The stoppage of the plant’s fuel was the result of the EU’s decision to stop paying the cost of the fuel for the first time since the formation of the Hamas government in 2006. The EU announced on 16 August 2007 that it will stop funding the power plant’s fuel due to suspicions that the dismissed government in Gaza collects electricity bills that are not deposited in the Gaza Electricity Company accounts. European Commission in Jerusalem spokesperson, Alex Dumonty, announced that, “The EU will not pay the fuel bill for Sunday; and that we are studying all aspects of this file. Due to the security situation we decided to review our mechanisms of aid delivery. Pending the results of this review, we hope to resume payment during the upcoming 24 or 48 hours at most.”

The EU decision came with the context of press statements by Dr. Riyad El-Malki, Minister of Information in the Palestinian Government in Ramallah, holding the government in Gaza the responsibility for occupying the Gaza Electricity Company and collecting bills for its own benefit. El-Malki stated in a press conference in Ramallah, “The Government in Ramallah will not pay the price of fuel for the Gaza power plant as long as Hamas controls the money of the company and collects electricity bills from people while disregarding their interests.” However, sources in Hamas in Gaza denied these allegations. Yehya Mousa, PLC member from Hamas, held a press conference in which he stated that the Gaza Electricity Company is a private company and that all bills enter the company’s accounts.

Since the closure of Nahal Oz on 16 August 2007 and the stop of flow of the power plant fuel, a serious power shortage affected the Gaza Strip. The plant cut production to 50% and relied on reserve fuel lasting 24 hours only. On Saturday, 18 August 2007, the power plant reduced production by shutting down 3 out of 4 generators. Production was completely stopped on Sunday, 19 August 2007.

It is noted that this is the second time that the Gaza Strip faces a severe power crisis during the last 14 months. On 28 June 2006, IOF planes bombarded the Gaza power plant and destroyed it. As a result, 6 electricity generators were destroyed; and power was cut off half of the Gaza Strip population. Lost production totaled 90 megawatt, approximately 45% of the Strip’s needs. Israel supplied the Strip with another 110 megawatts, bringing the total to 200 megawatts, which is below the Strip’s need of 220 megawatts.

After 6 month the plant restarted the production of 50 megawatts; 17 megawatts were provided by Egypt; and Israel continued to provide 110 megawatts. Thus the total electricity available to the Strip was well below its consumption of 250 megawatts.

The contract between the Gaza power plant and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) stipulates that the latter provide the fuel for the plant; and the former receive their operating costs only. The PNA provided the plant with fuel up till the formation of the Hamas government in March 2006. The price of the fuel was paid from Palestinian tax monies collected by Israel. However, Israel announced freezing these taxes after the formation of the Hamas government; and the PNA could not fulfill its obligations towards the power plant. The EU announced in July 2006 that it will provide $US 12 million monthly to cover the cost of fuel for the power plant.

Sources in the Gaza Electricity Company informed PCHR’s researcher that the current crisis is more serious than that caused by the destruction of the power plant in June 2006. Last year, the crisis was overcome by the operation of power generators to support the general electricity network in residential areas and public institutions. However, the current crisis continues to escalate due to the stoppage of fuel for the power plant. If the crisis continues, a catastrophe is deemed to hit basic services in the Gaza Strip, affecting all aspects of civilian life.

The Gaza Electricity Company stated that the average monthly income collected from the people is approximately 13 million Israeli Shekels. This constitutes about 1% of the uncollected bills and about 20% of the monthly electricity bill of the Gaza Strip. Approximately 11 million Israeli Shekels are paid to the Gaza power plant; and 2 million are paid as salaries and running expenses for the Gaza Electricity Company. Company sources stated that all collected bills are deposited in the Companies bank account; and that all public bodies, including the President’s Office, are aware of this fact.

The current power crisis has started to affect basic services. In hospitals and healthcare centers, power shortages led to halting the operation of some medical equipment and some surgery theaters. In addition, there is concern over the state of medication storages and blood banks. Furthermore, nearly 700,000 residents of Gaza City and the Central Gaza Strip have been living without electricity since yesterday. The power crisis has affected the operation of drinking water wells and sewage disposal plants. This forewarns of a catastrophe for the residents of the Gaza Strip. In addition, hundreds of governmental organizations, NGO’s, factories, and businesses have been affected by the power crisis.

PCHR reminds IOF and the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), of their legal responsibilities towards the civilian population in the Gaza Strip; and calls:

–         Upon IOF to cease imposing collective punishment on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, and to permit passage of all forms of necessary fuel into the Gaza Strip to ensure the operation of the power plant, and to provide the power shortage resulting from the destruction of the plant in June 2006.

–         Upon donor countries, especially the EU, to resume financial aid allocated to cover the natural flow of fuel required to operate the Gaza power plant. –         Upon the PNA Presidency and governments in Ramallah and Gaza to fulfill their responsibility towards ensuring the restoration of fuel supplies to the power plant, and to stop any measures hindering EU funding of the fuel costs, so as to stop the deterioration of conditions in the Gaza Strip.

–         For neutralizing the civilian population from the ongoing power struggle, and to protect their civil and political rights as well as their economic, social, and cultural rights.