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| Gaza power cut blamed on blockade | |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| The only power plant in the Gaza Strip has been closed by energy authorities because they say Israel will not allow the urgent delivery of spare parts. | The only power plant in the Gaza Strip has been closed by energy authorities because they say Israel will not allow the urgent delivery of spare parts. |
| Officials said the plant had been damaged by frequent shutdowns because of fuel shortages and needed repairs. | Officials said the plant had been damaged by frequent shutdowns because of fuel shortages and needed repairs. |
| The closure means that about 500,000 people - one-third of Gaza's population - are without electricity. | The closure means that about 500,000 people - one-third of Gaza's population - are without electricity. |
| Israel says the tightening of the Gaza blockade is a legitimate response to attacks by Palestinian militants. | Israel says the tightening of the Gaza blockade is a legitimate response to attacks by Palestinian militants. |
| During a temporary lifting of the blockade for humanitarian aid on Monday, Israeli authorities also allowed a delivery of fuel to the power plant, the third since the blockade was intensified on 4 November. | |
| EU officials said the fuel delivery would be enough to keep the power plant running for a day. | EU officials said the fuel delivery would be enough to keep the power plant running for a day. |
| Officials say the power plant shutdown was the cumulative result of months of being unable to receive replacement parts. | Officials say the power plant shutdown was the cumulative result of months of being unable to receive replacement parts. |
| "Despite deliveries of fuel on Monday, the power plant stopped functioning because of breakdowns in the production units," the assistant director of the authority, Kanaan Obeid, told AFP. | "Despite deliveries of fuel on Monday, the power plant stopped functioning because of breakdowns in the production units," the assistant director of the authority, Kanaan Obeid, told AFP. |
| Israel "refuses to allow in the necessary parts and the plant cannot restart without them," he added. | Israel "refuses to allow in the necessary parts and the plant cannot restart without them," he added. |
| Humanitarian concern | Humanitarian concern |
| There have been frequent power cuts in Gaza City over recent weeks because of severe fuel shortages. | There have been frequent power cuts in Gaza City over recent weeks because of severe fuel shortages. |
| Israel closed the crossings after a rocket was fired at Israel late on Monday. | Israel closed the crossings after a rocket was fired at Israel late on Monday. |
| In the past, Israeli officials have accused Hamas of cynically exaggerating the impact of border closures to garner sympathy, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Jerusalem. | In the past, Israeli officials have accused Hamas of cynically exaggerating the impact of border closures to garner sympathy, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Jerusalem. |
| But the United Nations relief agency in Gaza (Unrwa) has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis unless the crossings are opened. | But the United Nations relief agency in Gaza (Unrwa) has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis unless the crossings are opened. |
| The militants said their rocket attacks, which caused minor damage but no serious injuries, were in retaliation for an Israeli army raid into Gaza. | The militants said their rocket attacks, which caused minor damage but no serious injuries, were in retaliation for an Israeli army raid into Gaza. |
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