A supply of diesel donated by Qatar, used to fuel Gaza’s sole power plant, is to run out tomorrow. Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah has denied that his government refused to receive money from Qatar, to be used in paying salaries for Gaza employees.
A SAFA news agency source pointed out that the closure Karm Abu Salem crossing is a main factor in the amount of fuel entering the Strip, adding that the Israel closes the crossing under the pretext of the Jewish festivals and other ‘security’ concerns.
According to Al Ray, the crossing is the only one through which goods, fuel, food commodities, and clothes can enter the region.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently stated that life in the Gaza Strip has become unbearable beause of the the siege and the closure of crossings: https://imemc.org/article/67951
The coming power crisis is expected to double the suffering of the Gazans this summer, as the Qatari donation only helps to power two generators, making electricity available in 8 hour periods.
Qatari donations have been the subject of another recent debate, as Al-Jazeera reported that the new Palestinian unity government refused to receive $ 20m from Qatar. The money was promised to be paid as salaries for former Gaza government employees.
PM Hamdallah’s office denied the accusation.
