The electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip is still ongoing for more than ten years and gets worse from time to time negatively impacting Palestinians’ lives in the besieged enclave at a time Palestinian political parties engage in an exchange of accusations over responsibility.
The unsolvable electricity crisis pushed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to organize protests in its governorates during which they called for putting an end to this crisis and providing power which is available for only 3 to 6 hours per day and exacerbating their suffering especially during winter and the extremely cold weather.
The Palestinian Information Center highlighted the issue of handing over the electricity file to the Palestinian national consensus government in addition to previously stated positions of Hamas in which the Movement asserted that the PA government refused to take responsibility for the electricity file during a meeting with Palestinian factions on this crisis and refused to bear its responsibilities.
Political Decision
Regarding the idea of handing over the electricity crisis file to the Palestinian government the PIC spoke to a number of experts and officials who affirmed that this crisis needs a political decision to be solved at a time Hamas expressed readiness to hand the electricity file to any party.
Economist Mohammed Abu Jayab said implementing the idea of Hamas handing over the electricity file to the Palestinian government is not about a proposal presented by Hamas which to be accepted by the Palestinian government in Ramallah explaining that it needs a political decision from the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abu Jayab wondered if Abbas wants to end this crisis or not adding that this question should be answered by Abbas noting that he is the only one who could take a decision to end this crisis.
Zou Alfiqar Swerjo a PFLP leader agreed with the notion of Abu Jayab adding: “Hamas proposed this idea clearly and that it is ready to hand over the electricity file to Ramallah completely. I think this is a positive step in the right direction” calling on Ramallah to bear its responsibilities and to take over this file.
Swerjo has also asserted in a statement to the PIC that it is difficult to hand over this file to the Palestinian government in Ramallah due to reconciliation issues.
Swerjo believes that Hamas cannot hand over the electricity file because this issue is inter-linked with the entire reconciliation project and solving many more files. This requires according to him much time and factional dialogues especially that the Palestinian government failed to assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.
He added “This file is thorny and costly and is not among the profitable files that the Ramallah government can benefit from especially after terminating taxes (imposed on fuel to run the power plant)” noting that this is not an easy process and all parties should bear their responsibilities.
Swerjo has called on Hamas to seriously propose the idea of handing over the electricity file as part of a full project. “It has to issue a statement saying we are ready to lift our hands from the electricity file from A to Z and the Ramallah government should take responsibility for this file.”
Hamas is serious
In his analysis of the consequences of Hamas’s proposal to hand over the electricity profile to any party Abu Jayyab talking to the PIC disagreed with Swerjo affirming that Hamas is serious and is heading towards getting rid of this burden which is related to the power sector in Gaza.
Abu Jayab noted that Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah find themselves unable to bear responsibility for some files.
Commenting on sacking Omar Katana the head of the power authority in Ramallah he said “The reasons behind this decision is Katana’s acceptance of the discussion to end the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip and reaching initial proposals to solve the electricity crisis” adding “Omar Katana caused the Palestinian government in Ramallah political embarrassment which led to sacking him.”
Ahmed Abu Alamreen the Director of the Information Center at the Power and Natural Resources Authority in the Gaza Strip said “the idea of handing over the electricity file is applicable if good intentions are there” adding that this is real and serious proposal and not just a theoretical framework as some might think the ball is in the PA’s court.”
Abu Alamreen told the PIC “The decision needs approval from high-ranking politicians” noting that most employees at the power authority in Gaza get their salaries from Ramallah and were employed by it “especially high-ranking employees.”
Speaking of the positive outcomes of handing over the electricity file to the PA Abu Alamreen said “The responsibility of the electricity file should be given to the Palestinian government the same as it is responsible for this file in the West Bank and this “will challenge all claims to hinder projects to increase the production of electricity in Gaza which has been disabled for more than ten years under claims of not controlling the Gaza Strip.”
Abu Alamreen who is well aware of the energy crisis in Gaza added that handing over the electricity file to the PA will allow the implementation of the electricity projects which were proposed by donors noting that obtaining Israeli and Egyptian approval is granted accusing Ramallah of hindering this project.
He added “When the Palestinian government takes responsibility for the electricity file taxes imposed on fuel will be terminated which doubles the prices of fuel and will allow operating the power plant at a full capacity.”
Abu Alamreen recalled that the European Union since 2009 has been giving the PA cash aid to purchase fuel but the PA did not transfer the money to purchase fuel. And when the government takes responsibility for the electricity profile it will cover the fuel’s prices from the EU funds” in addition to the existence of a gas line project and if the PA takes responsibility for Gaza’s electricity all political obstacles will be removed he elaborated.
Politicians based in the Gaza Strip have called for the establishment of a “Supreme National Body” to solve the worsening electricity crisis and re-establishing a new board of directors for the electricity company based on national and professional standards and with the participation of experts aimed at forcing concerned parties to end the electricity crisis.
The politicians called on the government to end all taxes imposed on the manufactured fuel to operate the electricity plant for three months to facilitate the import of fuel at a full capacity and to find renewable energy sources and to allocate funds for this purpose.
