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Fire in Gaza Kills Family and Stirs Rage Against the Power Company Fire in Gaza Kills Family and Stirs Rage Against the Power Company
(2 days later)
GAZA — Twelve hours after Palestinian electricity workers cut off power to a building because of nonpayment by one of the tenants, it went up in flames, killing a married couple and their four children, ages 3 months to 7 years. GAZA — Twelve hours after Palestinian electricity workers cut off power to a building because of nonpayment by one of the tenants, it went up in flames on Thursday, killing a married couple and their four children, ages 3 months to 7 years.
It was the latest in a series of house fires, most started by candles, in power-starved Gaza, and it set off bitter finger-pointing.It was the latest in a series of house fires, most started by candles, in power-starved Gaza, and it set off bitter finger-pointing.
As the family’s funeral procession passed by the headquarters of the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, angry mourners shattered the windows and windshield of a vehicle outside the building and made their way inside, smashing computers and a glass top on a counter. Hamas police soon turned the mourners away. Al Dameer Association for Human Rights, which is based in Gaza, issued a statement calling on Gazan authorities to investigate why the company had cut the electricity to the family’s house. As the family’s funeral procession passed by the headquarters of the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, angry mourners shattered the windows and windshield of a vehicle outside the building and made their way inside, smashing computers and a glass top on a counter. Hamas police officers soon turned the mourners away. The Dameer Association for Human Rights, which is based in Gaza, issued a statement calling on Gazan authorities to investigate why the company had cut the electricity to the family’s house.
The power in Gaza regularly goes out for six to eight hours. The territory’s lone power plant often does not produce at full capacity, and diesel supplies from Egypt have been disrupted. Israel supplies most of Gaza’s power, with about 20 percent coming from Egypt. The power in Gaza regularly goes out for six to eight hours daily. The territory’s lone power plant often does not produce at full capacity, and diesel supplies from Egypt have been disrupted. Israel supplies most of Gaza’s power, with about 20 percent coming from Egypt.
Last year, a house fire in central Gaza killed three children in April; another in September killed a fourth child.Last year, a house fire in central Gaza killed three children in April; another in September killed a fourth child.
The Hamas government focused on Israel, blaming it for constricting Gaza’s electricity supply, noting that Israel bombed the Gaza power station in 2006 and has long blockaded the territory from receiving many supplies, including fuel needed to run the station. The Interior Ministry of Hamas initially attributed the latest fire to a short circuit caused by a heater, but later said in a statement that it was started by a candle.The Hamas government focused on Israel, blaming it for constricting Gaza’s electricity supply, noting that Israel bombed the Gaza power station in 2006 and has long blockaded the territory from receiving many supplies, including fuel needed to run the station. The Interior Ministry of Hamas initially attributed the latest fire to a short circuit caused by a heater, but later said in a statement that it was started by a candle.
But relatives of the family blamed the electricity company, not Israel. Visiting the ruins of the house, Faiza Dhair, a sister of the man who died, pointed to the heater, which was hung on the wall outside the house’s most charred area, the bedroom.But relatives of the family blamed the electricity company, not Israel. Visiting the ruins of the house, Faiza Dhair, a sister of the man who died, pointed to the heater, which was hung on the wall outside the house’s most charred area, the bedroom.
“The death of my brother’s family has nothing to do with the siege,” she said, focusing her fury on the power company. She added, “If they did not cut the electricity cable to our house, my brother would not have died.”“The death of my brother’s family has nothing to do with the siege,” she said, focusing her fury on the power company. She added, “If they did not cut the electricity cable to our house, my brother would not have died.”
Another sister, Siham Dhair, 18, said that her brother was employed by the Palestinian Authority and received a fixed salary of 1,300 shekels a month, or about $350. She said she did not understand why his electricity bill would not have been paid, because normally an automatic deduction from his salary took care of the expense.Another sister, Siham Dhair, 18, said that her brother was employed by the Palestinian Authority and received a fixed salary of 1,300 shekels a month, or about $350. She said she did not understand why his electricity bill would not have been paid, because normally an automatic deduction from his salary took care of the expense.
She also noted that her brother, Hazem Dhair, 32, was an Islamic activist. “My mother was always afraid that Hazem would be killed during his jihadi work by Israel,” she said, “but today he died out of a candle that he was forced to light.”She also noted that her brother, Hazem Dhair, 32, was an Islamic activist. “My mother was always afraid that Hazem would be killed during his jihadi work by Israel,” she said, “but today he died out of a candle that he was forced to light.”