Energy in the State of Palestine

Last updated
Gaza Power Plant is operated by the Palestine Electric Corporation Palestine Electric Company 02.jpg
Gaza Power Plant is operated by the Palestine Electric Corporation

Palestine produces no oil or natural gas and is predominantly dependent on the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) for electricity. [1] [2] According to UNCTAD, the Palestinian Territory "lies above sizeable reservoirs of oil and natural gas wealth" but "occupation continues to prevent Palestinians from developing their energy fields so as to exploit and benefit from such assets." [3] [4] In 2012, electricity available in West Bank and Gaza was 5,370 GW-hour (3,700 in the West Bank and 1,670 in Gaza), while the annual per capita consumption of electricity (after deducting transmission loss) was 950 kWh. [5] National sources only produce 445 GWh of electricity, supplying less than 10% of demand. [6] The only domestic source of energy is the disputed Gaza Marine gas field, which has not yet been developed. [2] Palestinian energy demand increased rapidly, increasing by 6.4% annually between 1999 and 2005. [2] Future consumption of electricity is expected to reach 8,400 GWh by 2020 on the expectation that consumption will increase by 6% annually. [7]

Contents

The Palestinian Electricity Transmission Company (PETL), formed in 2013, is currently the sole buyer of electricity in the areas under Palestinian Authority (PA) control. It buys electricity from the Palestine Power Generation Company (PPGC), IEC, and other neighboring countries, which is then distributed to the six Palestinian district electricity distribution companies.

Structurally, Palestine does not have sufficient distribution companies or systems. This problem leads to constraints on electricity efficiency. [2] The West Bank and the Gaza Strip receive and consume energy in different ways.

Petroleum

Almost all liquid fuel used in the Palestinian territories is supplied by or via Israel. [8] The supply of petroleum is centrally located at two different terminals in the West Bank and one terminal at the Israel–Gaza barrier, at the Kerem Shalom crossing. These terminals do not have storage capacity for petroleum, which must therefore be used daily.

In the case of Gaza, imported fuel is required to power the Gaza power plant, as well as for transportation and generators. The diesel fuel has been exempted from the blockade of the Gaza Strip, with some limitations, which has been in place since 2007.

In 2011, Hamas began buying cheaper fuel from Egypt, bringing it via a network of tunnels, and refused to buy it from Israel. [9]

In early 2012, disagreement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas led to Egypt reducing supplies of fuel being smuggled through the tunnels, while Hamas continued to refuse to accept fuel from or via Israel. Egypt attempted to stop the use of tunnels for delivery of Egyptian fuel purchased by Palestinian authorities, and severely reduced supply through the tunnel network. As the crisis deepened, Hamas wanted fuel to be imported from Egypt with the Rafah terminal between Egypt and Gaza being equipped for fuel transfer, and refused to accept fuel delivered via Kerem Shalom. This proposal was inconsistent with Egypt's agreement with Israel and the PA. [10]

In mid-February, the crisis escalated and Hamas rejected an Egyptian proposal to bring in fuel via Kerem Shalom. Ahmed Abu Al-Amreen of the Hamas-run Energy Authority refused it on the grounds that Kerem Shalom is operated by Israel. Egypt could not ship diesel fuel to Gaza through the Rafah crossing, which is limited to the movement of individuals. [9]

In early March, the head of Gaza's Energy Authority again insisted that Egypt transfer fuel through Rafah, although this crossing was not equipped to handle the 500,000 litres needed each day. [11] In late March, Egypt agreed to provide 600,000 litres of fuel to Gaza daily, but it had no way of delivering it to which Hamas would agree. [12]

Israel permitted the entry of the normal diesel for hospitals, and also shipped 150,000 litres of diesel through Kerem Shalom, which was paid for by the Red Cross. [13] In April 2012, the PA and Hamas reached a deal, with the involvement of the Red Cross, for the transfer of fuel via Kerem Shalom, with the fuel being accepted by the PA, which was then transferred to Hamas after Hamas made payment to the PA. [14]

Electricity generation

In 1999, Palestine Electric Company (PEC) was formed in the Palestinian territories as a subsidiary of Palestine Power Company LLC [15] to establish electricity generating plants in territories under PA control.

In 2010, PADICO Holdings, PEC and other Palestinian companies formed the Palestine Power Generation Company (PPGC) [16] to build power plants in areas under PA control, and to reduce Palestinian dependence on imported energy.

Gaza power plant

The Gaza Power Plant is the only power plant in the Gaza Strip. It is owned by Gaza Power Generating Company (GPGC), a subsidiary of the Palestine Electric Company (PEC). It is located on Salaheddin Road and relies on diesel fuel imported via Israel.

Following the Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007, the Gaza Strip has been subject to a blockade, though fuel for the Gaza power plant has been exempted in normal circumstances, as had electricity supplies. Development of the energy sector in Gaza ceased, while Gaza faced increasing demand from a growing population. During past military offensives, Israeli targets included energy infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. [17] In late October 2007, in response to persistent rocket fire on southern Israel, Israel cut diesel exports to Gaza by 15% and gasoline exports by 10%, and created targeted electrical outages of 15 minutes after a rocket attack.

Until June 2013, diesel fuel required as fuel for the power plant was smuggled from Egypt, where fuel at the time was highly subsidized. Egypt took measures against the Gaza Strip smuggling tunnels, halting these cheap imports. With a halt to such smuggling and with restricted amounts of fuel supplied via Israel the power plant began operating at partial capacity. [18]

The Gaza power plant's main fuel tanks were hit by an Israeli tank shell in the 2014 Gaza War, setting about 3 million cubic liters of fuel on fire. Originally reported as destroyed and facing a year of repairs, the plant returned to operation in six weeks. [19] [20]

In 2016, Qatar provided fuel for the Gaza power plant. PA President Abbas objected to the arrangement because the PA would be unable to collect taxes on the fuel. [21]

In August 2019, following three rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip, Israel cut by half the amount of fuel it supplied to Gaza's power plant. Before the cut, residents had six hours of electricity followed by 12 hours of blackout, and it was said that the cut would result in a decrease of power time to four-hour periods. [22]

In August 2020, following the launching of incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip that caused brush fires in southern Israel, Israel suspended fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip, resulting in the shutting down of the Gaza power plant within a week. [23] In September 2020, Qatar brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that is reported to include "plans to build a power station operated by Qatar." [24] For the 2021 year, and perhaps in earlier years, Qatar has been paying for fuel for Gaza's power plant. [25] [26] Transfers of fuel for the power plant were stopped by Israel during the Gaza War in May 2021 and resumed by the end of June. [27]

Jenin power plant

The PA approved PPGC's proposal for the construction of the Jenin power plant in the north of the West Bank. PPGC has acquired around 148,300 m2 of land for the project in Jalamah, Jenin Governorate. The Jenin power plant is planned as a gas fired power plant with a generation capacity of approximately 450 megawatts, supplied by natural gas from the Gaza Marine gas field. Power generation from the plant is expected to commence at the end of 2023. [28] The power plant is expected to provide around 40% of Palestine's annual electricity needs in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with a total annual production capacity of around 3,700 GWh. [29] The PA has granted Palestinian Electricity Company an exclusive right to generate electricity in the Gaza Strip and sell it to PA owned or managed institutions for 20 years, which may be extended for a maximum of two consecutive five-year terms. [16] The electricity produced in the Jenin Power Plant will be sold to PETL. [28]

Gaza electricity crisis

As of 2017, Gaza's normal energy needs were estimated to be approximately 400-600 megawatts (MW) for full 24-hour supply to all residents. Gaza's electricity is normally supplied by its sole diesel power plant, which has a nominal rating of 60-140 MW (figures vary due to degree of operation and damage to the plant) and which is reliant on crude diesel fuel, [30] [31] which is imported via Israel. An additional 125 MW is supplied by Israel via 10 power lines, and 27 MW is supplied by Egypt. [32] [33] Even in normal conditions, the current rated supply of Gaza is inadequate to meet Gaza's growing needs. [18] [34]

The Gaza electricity crisis is a result of the tensions between Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority, which rules in the West Bank, over custom tax revenue, funding of the Gaza Strip, and political authority. Residents of the Gaza Strip receive electricity for a few hours a day on a rolling blackout basis. As a result of the crises the Gaza power plant has reduced and then ceased operations due to a lack of fuel, and the amount of imported electricity from Israel and Egypt has also been reduced. [35] [32] [36] [18]

Because of the unpredictability of the power supply, some Gazans and government institutions use private electric generators, solar panels and uninterruptible power supply units to produce power when regular power is not available. [37] [38] [39] [36] These alternative power sources depend on the availability of fuel.

Electricity imports

The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) supplies most of the electricity in the Palestinian territories. PETL is the sole buyer of imported electricity for distribution in West Bank Areas A and B and in the Gaza Strip, which in turn supplies the electricity to the six Palestinian distribution companies. In West Bank Area C, including the settlements, IEC supplies the electricity directly.

In normal circumstances, IEC supplied 125 MW of electricity to the Gaza Strip via ten high voltage power lines, [32] which has been exempt from the blockade of the Gaza Strip, with some limitations. PETL also buys 27 MW of electricity from Egypt for distribution in the Gaza Strip, [2] though the supply from Egypt is considered unreliable. [32] In May 2021, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, errant rockets fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip at Israel damaged five of the ten power lines that supply electricity from Israel to the Gaza Strip, severely reducing the electricity supply. [40] At the time, IEC stated that it could not repair the lines, [40] and after the fighting ceased the IEC workers union released a statement refusing to repair the facilities until Israeli prisoners of Hamas (including Avera Mengistu and the bodies of Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul) were returned. [41]

In the West Bank, PETL buys around 5% of electricity from Jordan Electric Power Company (JEPCO) to distribute only in the Jericho Governorate. [17]

Electricity transmission

The Palestinian Electricity Transmission Company (PETL) was formed in 2013, [42] and is currently the sole buyer of electricity in the Palestinian territories, though it effectively operates only in West Bank Areas A and B, where it buys electricity from IEC and some from Jordan. IEC distributes electricity in West Bank Area C. [43]

A power substation located outside Jenin has been operating since July 2017 by PEC capable of providing up to 135 MW, which is purchased by the IEC to supply the northern West Bank. [44] In October 2020, Israel transferred control over another three power substations in the West Bank to the PA. The three substations were built by IEC and financed by the European Investment Bank. Two of the substations are managed by PETL, while the third is managed by JDECO. [45]

PETL distributes electricity to the five Palestinian district electricity distribution companies operating in West Bank Areas A and B, that in turn distribute to customers in their respective licence areas. [43]

Electricity distribution

There are six electricity distribution companies that have been licensed by the Palestinian Authority to distribute electricity to customers within their respective exclusive concession areas. Five are in West Bank Areas A and B: Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO); [46] North Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO), which covers Nablus and the Jenin area, [47] and Toubas Electricity Distribution Company (TEDCO), which serve the northern parts of the West Bank; and Hebron Electric Power Company (HEPCO) and Southern Electric Company (SELCO), which serve the southern parts of the West Bank. Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) is the sole electricity distributor in the Gaza Strip. [48] IEC distributes electricity in West Bank Area C.

JDECO is the largest and the oldest electricity distributor in the West Bank, existing from the period of the Jordanian rule of the West Bank. JDECO's licence area covers the East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho areas. JDECO also buys about 5% of its electricity from Jordan's JEPCO, which is only used in the Jericho district. [49] JDECO supplies electricity to 30% of households in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. JDECO's activities in East Jerusalem are regulated by the Israel Electricity Authority, and in the West Bank by the Palestinian Authority (PA) or, in some cases, by the Israeli Civil Administration. [50]

History

After the 1967 occupation of the West Bank, agreements to distribute electricity to the West Bank from Jordan were terminated by the Israeli Military Governorate. Order 389 of 1970 vested the governance of the natural resources sector in an authority to be appointed by the military commander. [17] The Israeli Civil Administration had the authority to supply electricity to the Israeli settlements, such as Kiryat Arba. The IEC was authorized to supply and sell electricity to the Hebron municipality. [51] By 1980, the IEC held a concession for all of the power supply in the West Bank. [51]

In 1994, with the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority became responsible for civil matters in West Bank Areas A and B, but not Area C, and the Gaza Strip.

In 1999, Palestine Electric Company (PEC) was formed in the Palestinian territories as a subsidiary of Palestine Power Company LLC. [15] PEC shares were listed in the Palestine Exchange in 2004, where 33% of its shares are owned by public shareholders and 67% owned by founding companies. [15] The main objectives of PEC are to establish electricity generating plants in the territories of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and to carry out all the operations necessary for the production and generation of electricity. In 2010, PADICO Holdings, PEC and other Palestinian companies formed the Palestine Power Generation Company (PPGC) [16] to build power plants in areas under PA control, and to reduce Palestinian dependence on imported energy.

In 1999, BG Group was granted an exploration licence by the PA, and in 2000 the company discovered natural gas about 36 kilometres (22 mi) offshore in the Mediterranean Sea in the Gaza Marine gas field. As of 2021, exploitation of the gas field is still subject to negotiations.

Debt to IEC

Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) sells electricity to Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) and to the Palestinian Authority, which on-sells them to the other four Palestinian district electricity distribution companies in the West Bank and to Gaza Electricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) in the Gaza Strip. The distributors provide electricity to customers in their respective licence areas of West Bank Areas A and B and the Gaza Strip. [43] The distributors depend on their customers paying their bills to enable the distributors to pay IEC or the PA for the electricity supplied. The director of Northern Electric, for example, has been urging its customers to pay their bills. The majority of the debt to IEC is owed by the PA and JDECO. [46] IEC said that it was losing ILS 85 million per month on power being supplied to Nablus and Jenin that was not being paid for, causing the majority of its quarterly loss. [52] JDECO, for example, in 2012, owed IEC ILS 458 million. [43]

In February 2015, the PA and the Palestinian electricity distributors owed IEC a total of ILS 1.9 billion (about US$500 million). On 23 February, after numerous notices, IEC cut power to several West Bank cities for about 45 minutes. [47] Two days later it again cut power, saying it was a warning to the PA to begin paying down the debt. [53] The Palestinians accused Israel and IEC of collective punishment, [46] [54] while IEC said it must operate independently of government and was treating the Palestinian electricity distributors as it would any customer who did not pay its bills. [55]

In March 2016, the debts stood at ILS 1.7 billion (about US$460 million). On 31 March, IEC cut power in the Jericho area, [56] on 4 April in the Bethlehem area, [57] and on the following day in the Hebron area. [58] On 6 April, IEC restored full power to the West Bank after it received a ILS 20 million payment, and an agreement to provide a full debt repayment schedule within seven days. [59]

In April 2017, the PA told IEC that it would only pay ILS 25 million of the ILS 40 million monthly bill for Gaza and instructed IEC to reduce supply in the Strip. [60] IEC reduced supplies to Gaza in May and June 2017, saying the dispute between Hamas and the PA was an internal Palestinian matter. [61] [62] [63]

In May 2018, PETL agreed to repay PA's debt of almost ILS 1 billion. [64]

In June 2019, the debts stood at ILS 2.0 billion (about US$540 million), and the PA stopped all payments to IEC. [65]

In August 2019, with PA agreement, ILS 300 million was deducted from taxes that had been withheld by Israel for the PA and applied against the IEC debt.

On 8 September 2019, the debt was ILS 1.7 billion (about US$460 million) and IEC gave notice of its intention to cut power. [66] Two months earlier the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that IEC must give 35 days notice before it can cut off electricity. [67]

On 28 December 2019, IEC started sporadic, three-hour power cuts in JDECO areas, to press for payment of some $519 million owed by JDECO. [68] In January 2020, power cuts stopped after JDECO paid ILS 740 million ($214.21 million). [68] [69]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaza Strip</span> Autonomous territory in the Middle East

The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. Inhabited by mostly Palestinian refugees and their descendants, Gaza is one of the most densely populated territories in the world. Gaza is bordered by Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the east and north. The territory has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palestinian Authority</span> Interim government in Western Asia

The Palestinian Authority, officially known as the Palestinian National Authority or the State of Palestine, is the Fatah-controlled government body that exercises partial civil control over the Palestinian enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank as a consequence of the 1993–1995 Oslo Accords. The Palestinian Authority controlled the Gaza Strip prior to the Palestinian elections of 2006 and the subsequent Gaza conflict between the Fatah and Hamas parties, when it lost control to Hamas; the PA continues to claim the Gaza Strip, although Hamas exercises de facto control. Since January 2013, following United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19, the Palestinian Authority has used the name "State of Palestine" on official documents, without prejudice to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) role as "representative of the Palestinian people".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupied Palestinian territories</span> Occupied Palestinian territory in the Middle East

The occupied Palestinian territories, also referred to as the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the Palestinian territories, consist of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip—two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine that have been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967. These territories make up the State of Palestine, which was self-declared by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988 and is recognized by 146 out of 193 UN member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State of Palestine</span> Country in West Asia

Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in the southern Levant region of West Asia recognized by 146 out of 193 UN member states. It encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, collectively known as the occupied Palestinian territories, within the broader geographic and historical Palestine region. Palestine shares most of its borders with Israel, and it borders Jordan to the east and Egypt to the southwest. It has a total land area of 6,020 square kilometres (2,320 sq mi) while its population exceeds five million people. Its proclaimed capital is Jerusalem, while Ramallah serves as its administrative center. Gaza City was its largest city prior to evacuations in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the State of Palestine</span>

The economy of the State of Palestine refers to the economic activity of the State of Palestine. Palestine receives substantial financial aid from various international donors, including governments and international organizations. In 2020, the inflation rate of -0.7% and unemployment rate was 25.9%. While exports were recorded at US$1 billion, with an import value of US$6 billion. Contributors to the national economy is service sector (47%), wholesale and repair (19%), manufacturing (12%), agriculture (7%), finance and banking (3%), construction (5%), information technology (5%) and transportation sector (2%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in the State of Palestine</span>

This article describes transport in the State of Palestine, which consists of two non-contiguous territories, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, different parts of which are administered by Palestinian National Authority, Hamas Administration in Gaza and Israel.

The government of Palestine is the government of the Palestinian Authority or State of Palestine. The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (EC) is the highest executive body of the Palestine Liberation Organization and acts as the government. Since June 2007, there have been two separate administrations in Palestine, one in the West Bank and the other in the Gaza Strip. The government on the West Bank was generally recognised as the Palestinian Authority Government. On the other hand, the government in the Gaza Strip claimed to be the legitimate government of the Palestinian Authority. Until June 2014, when the Palestinian Unity Government was formed, the government in the West Bank was the Fatah-dominated Palestinian government of 2013. In the Gaza Strip, the government was the Hamas government of 2012. Following two Fatah–Hamas Agreements in 2014, on 25 September 2014 Hamas agreed to let the PA Government resume control over the Gaza Strip and its border crossings with Egypt and Israel, but that agreement had broken down by June 2015, after President Abbas said the PA government was unable to operate in the Gaza Strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israel Electric Corporation</span> Israeli electricity company

Israel Electric Corporation is the largest supplier of electrical power in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The IEC builds, maintains, and operates power generation stations, sub-stations, as well as transmission and distribution networks in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatah–Hamas conflict</span> Palestinian factional conflict since 2006

The Fatah–Hamas conflict is an ongoing political and strategic conflict between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories, leading to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas and Fatah administrations remains unfinalized and the situation is deemed a frozen conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Gaza–Israel conflict</span> Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip

The 2006 Gaza–Israel conflict, known in Israel as Operation Summer Rains, was a series of battles between Palestinian militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during summer 2006, prompted by the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006. Large-scale conventional warfare occurred in the Gaza Strip, starting on 28 June 2006, which was the first major ground operation in the Gaza Strip since Israel's unilateral disengagement plan was implemented between August and September 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafah Border Crossing</span> Egypt–Palestine border crossing

The Rafah Border Crossing or Rafah Crossing Point is the sole crossing point between Egypt and Palestine's Gaza Strip. It is located on the Egypt–Palestine border. Under a 2007 agreement between Egypt and Israel, Egypt controls the crossing but imports through the Rafah crossing require Israeli approval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blockade of the Gaza Strip</span> 2005–present land, sea and air blockade by Israel and Egypt

The restrictions on movement and goods in Gaza imposed by Israel date to the early 1990s. After Hamas took over in 2007, Israel significantly intensified existing movement restrictions and imposed a complete blockade on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Gaza Strip. In the same year, Egypt closed the Rafah crossing point. The blockade's current stated aim is to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza; previously stated motivations have included exerting economic pressure on Hamas. Human rights groups have called the blockade illegal and a form of collective punishment, as it restricts the flow of essential goods, contributes to economic hardship, and limits Gazans' freedom of movement. The blockade and its effects have led to the territory being called an "open-air prison".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the Gaza Strip</span>

The economy of the Gaza Strip was dependent on small industries and agriculture. After years of decline, the Gaza economy experienced some growth in the late 2000s, boosted by foreign aid. According to the International Monetary Fund, the economy grew 20 percent in 2011, and the per capita gross domestic product increased by 19 percent.

People of the Palestinian territories—the West Bank and the Gaza Strip—are bound by differing laws that handle marital unions on the basis of the couple's national status and religious affiliation. After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Palestinian residents of the Jordanian-annexed West Bank and the Egyptian-occupied Gaza Strip became subject to Jordanian marriage law and Egyptian marriage law, respectively. After the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, which saw Israel capture the Palestinian territories from Jordan and Egypt, those original laws largely remained in place.

As of 2016, taxation in the State of Palestine is subject to the Oslo Accords, notably the Protocol on Economic Relations also called the Paris Protocol, which was signed in 1994 by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. The Paris Protocol established a customs union, which essentially formalized the existing situation, where the Palestinian economy was merged into the Israeli one. Formally, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is entitled to collect taxes from the Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, but some 75% of PA's total tax revenue was as of 2014 collected by Israel on behalf of the PA and transferred to the PA on a monthly basis. Israel has occasionally withheld the taxes it owes the PA.

Events in the year 2012 in the Palestinian territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamas government in the Gaza Strip</span> De facto government in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip in Palestine since its takeover of the region from rival party Fatah in June 2007. Hamas' government was led by Ismail Haniyeh from 2007 until February 2017, when Haniyeh was replaced as leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip by Yahya Sinwar. Until October 2024, Yahya Sinwar was the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In January 2024, due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war, Israel said that Hamas lost control of most of the northern part of the Gaza Strip. In May 2024, Hamas regrouped in the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process</span> Political initiative in Palestine

A series of attempts to resolve the hostility between Fatah and Hamas have been made since their 2006–2007 conflict and the subsequent violent conflict over the Gaza Strip.

The Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), previously the Jerusalem Electric and Public Service Corporation, is a Palestinian electricity distribution company established in its current form in 1956 that has the exclusive rights to supply electricity to consumers in the districts of East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho. The company does not have its own power stations, but buys over 95% of its electricity from Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) and the remainder from Jordan Electric Power Company (JEPCO), which can only be used in the Jericho district. JDECO supplies electricity to 30% of households in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The Electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip is an ongoing and growing electricity crisis faced by nearly two million residents of the Gaza Strip, with regular power supply being provided only for a few hours a day on a rolling blackout schedule. Some Gazans and government institutions use private electric generators, solar panels and uninterruptible power supply units to produce power when regular power is not available.

References

  1. ↑ Henderson, Simon. "Natural Gas in Palestinian Authority: The Potential of the Gaza Marine Offshore Field." Journal of Health and Social Behavior 53.3 (2012): 296. Mar. 2014. Web.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "West Bank and Gaza Energy Sector Review" Sustainable Development Department, United Nations. May 2007.
  3. ↑ The Economic Costs of the Israeli Occupation for the Palestinian People: The Unrealized Oil and Natural Gas Potential (PDF) (Report). UNCTAD. 2019.
  4. ↑ Ahmed, Nafeez (20 May 2021). "Biden Government and Chevron Colluding in Israel's 'Pillage' of Gaza's Gas Resources". Byline Times.
  5. ↑ "The Electricity Sector: Current Status and The Need for Reform" (PDF). MAS. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Palestinian Territories- Country Analysis Note." http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=pt. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Mar. 2014. Web.
  7. ↑ Marei, Ibrahim (2016). "Developments in law and policy: The promotion of green energy in the electricity sector of Palestine". Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law. 35 (1): 47–67. doi:10.1080/02646811.2016.1216698. S2CID   157246634 . Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. 1 2 Saud Abu Ramadan (18 February 2012). "Hamas Rejects Egypt Plan to Bring Gaza Fuel Via Israeli Crossing". Bloomberg.com.
  10. ↑ "Gaza electricity crisis". Maan News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  11. ↑ محمد عنان (4 March 2012). "فلسطين الآن : مصر ستزود غزة بالوقود لشهر والطاقة تبحث البدائل". Paltimes.net. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  12. ↑ (1) undefined السبت, 18 فبراير, 2012 (18 February 2012). "فلسطين الآن : نجيدة لـ"فلسطين الآن": مصر ستزود غزة بـ600 ألف لتر وقود يوميا". Paltimes.net. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Google Translate". google.com.
  14. ↑ "Fuel tankers arrive in Gaza". Maan News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 "Palestine Electric Company".
  16. 1 2 3 "PADICO HOLDING". PADICO HOLDING.
  17. 1 2 3 Power, Susan. "Annexing Power: Exploiting and Preventing the Development Of Oil and Gas in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" (PDF). Al Haq. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 The humanitarian impact of Gaza’s electricity and fuel crisis Archived 22 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine , UN OCHA, March 2014
  19. ↑ "Israel knocks out Gaza's only power plant". ABC News. 29 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Gaza power plant resumes operations, director says". Reuters. 27 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ya'alon: Abbas objected to Qatari fuel entering Gaza through Ashdod". Middle East Monitor . 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Israel reduces Gaza fuel supply after rocket attack". Reuters . Archived from the original on 27 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "Gaza's lone power plant shuts down amid tensions with Israel". www.aljazeera.com.
  24. ↑ "Israel and Qatar have an unlikely partnership for dealing with Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  25. ↑ Qatar announces new aid grant to Palestinians in Gaza
  26. ↑ "UN agrees to take over distribution of Qatari funds in Gaza — report". The Times of Israel .
  27. ↑ Israel allows fuel tankers into Gaza for first time since clashes
  28. 1 2 Massader
  29. ↑ Technologies, Entities. "Palestine Power Generation Co. - Overview". Palestine Power Generation Co. - Overview.
  30. ↑ Gaza's Only Power Plant Knocked Out, Arutz7, July 2014
  31. ↑ Israel, Turkey eager to rebuild Gaza, Globes English, June 2016
  32. 1 2 3 4 Palestinian Authority halts payments for Israeli electricity to Gaza: Israel, Reuters, 27 April 2017
  33. ↑ HAMAS BLAMES ABBAS FOR GAZA POWER PLANT SHUTDOWN, JPost, 18 April 2017
  34. ↑ With Only Three Hours of Electricity a Day, Gaza Is 'On Verge of Explosion', Ha'aretz, January 2017
  35. ↑ Israel cannot shirk its responsibility for Gaza's electricity crisis, B'Tselem, 16 January 2017
  36. 1 2 Gaza's electricity crisis sheds light on gap between social classes, al-Monitor, March 2016
  37. ↑ "Gaza's Electricity Crisis: The Impact of Electricity Cuts on the Humanitarian Situation" (PDF). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2014.
  38. ↑ 'Gaza Infrastructure Nearing Collapse', JPost, January 2017
  39. ↑ Seeing no end to power crisis, Gazans turn to the sun, Reuters, March 2016
  40. 1 2 "Israel says high voltage power lines supplying Gaza Strip with electricity damaged". Al Arabiya English. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  41. ↑ staff, T. O. I. "Electric company union: No repair to Gaza power lines until captives returned". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  42. ↑ "PETL.PS About us".
  43. 1 2 3 4 Israel Renews Palestinian Power Supplier's License, Despite Debt. Itai Trilnick, Haaretz, 7 January 2013 (premium)
  44. ↑ "In deal with Israel, PA takes 'historic' step toward energy independence". Times of Israel. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  45. ↑ Boxerman, Aaron. "With coordination still suspended, Israel hands three power stations to PA". www.timesofisrael.com.
  46. 1 2 3 "Power cut again in Palestinian cities despite 'collective punishment' accusations". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  47. 1 2 "Israeli government says not behind electric corp. decision to cut West Bank power". Haaretz.
  48. ↑ "United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory | Electricity in the Gaza Strip". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory.
  49. ↑ "Jerusalem electricity company crippled by Israel, Palestinian Authority". Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East.
  50. ↑ Appendix B, Jerusalem District Electricity Co. Ltd ("JDECO") - Description of Corporate Business. State of Israel, Public Utilities Authority Electricity. Accessed March 2016. Here available
  51. 1 2 Kretzmer, David (April 2002). The Occupation of Justice: The Supreme Court of Israel and the Occupied Territories. SUNY press. p. 64. ISBN   0-7914-5337-5.
  52. ↑ "Israel Electric to resume West Bank power disruptions - Globes". en.globes.co.il. 25 February 2015.
  53. ↑ Pileggi, Tamar. "Israel cuts power to West Bank cities for second time". www.timesofisrael.com.
  54. ↑ "Israeli electric company begins West Bank power cuts over debt". 23 February 2015.
  55. ↑ "Cutting Palestinians' electricity: It isn't just business, it's personal". Haaretz.
  56. ↑ "IEC reduces Jericho electricity supply - Globes". en.globes.co.il. 31 March 2016.
  57. ↑ staff, T. O. I. "Israel Electric Corporation to reduce power to Bethlehem". www.timesofisrael.com.
  58. ↑ "Hebron becomes latest city to experience electricity cut". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  59. ↑ "Full power restored to West Bank after PA takes step to pay down NIS 1.74b. debt". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  60. ↑ Gewirtz, Jason (15 May 2017). "Israel and Gaza: An electricity dispute makes a tense situation worse". CNBC.com. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  61. ↑ "Israel reduces Gaza electricity after PA refuses to pay". JPost.com. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  62. ↑ Israel cuts Gaza electricity after Palestinian president says he will no longer pay the bill for Hamas, Telegraph, 12 June
  63. ↑ "Israel reduces power supply to Gaza, as Abbas pressures Hamas". Reuters. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  64. ↑ "IEC reaches settlement on Palestinian electricity debt". Globes. 5 January 2018.
  65. ↑ "PA stops paying Israel Electric Cooperation". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  66. ↑ staff, T. O. I. "Israel cuts power to Palestinian areas of West Bank over debts". www.timesofisrael.com.
  67. ↑ "Israel electric company to begin cutting power to PA due to debts". The Jerusalem Post .
  68. 1 2 "Israeli electric company ends power cuts to West Bank after Palestinians pay debt". Reuters. 22 January 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  69. ↑ "How Ramallah is resolving electricity crisis". Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.