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August 21, 2007
Its lights out in Gaza
Going on four days now. Bummer.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents were forced to make do without electricity Monday as the coastal strip's power supply became the latest victim of feuding between Gaza's Hamas rulers and their Fatah rivals.
What? How could such a thing happen?
European donors stopped paying key electricity aid over the weekend, concerned that Hamas is siphoning off revenues. As Fatah and Hamas traded charges of corruption, at least half of Gaza's 1.4 million people were plunged into darkness.
Abbas released a statement Monday saying the electricity crisis took place "after Hamas took over the electric company and began collecting revenues from the population to fund its militia, which in turn drove the EU to withhold its aid for providing fuel."
Jawwad Hirzallah, deputy minister of economy, said Hamas was pocketing electricity revenues while the EU footed the power bill.
"Hamas is collecting all the electricity fees and never pays the costs of the electricity," he said.
Wow. Did I read that right? You mean... they're not blaming Israel?
Palestinian children hold candles during a power cut in Gaza city August 18, 2007. Israel plans to open a Gaza Strip crossing for several hours to let fuel be transported to the territory, the army said on Saturday, a day after power generators there shut down due to a fuel blockade. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA)
Ah ha! An Israeli fuel blockade. See that! I knew it had to be Israel's fault!
Residents scrambled to improvise, following the irregular electricity supply from neighborhood to neighborhood to charge mobile phones and laptop computers.
Oh those poor palestinians, unemployed because of Israel, starving because of Israel and living far below the poverty level because of Israel, and... scrambling around to charge up them cell phones and laptops. Wow. Heartbreaking, ain't it?
However, there is a bit of good news in all of this...
Three residents of El-Fokhari, southeast of Khan Yunis in Gaza, were injured Sunday after rumors spread of the appearance of IDF forces in the area. A fire fight ensued between the armed groups, each suspecting the other to be Israelis. Only afterwards did they realize that no Israeli forces had entered the area and they had shot at each other.
Its so dark, they don't know who they're shooting at, so they're shooting each other. Too bad they're such lousy shots.
Posted by LindaSoG at August 21, 2007 07:17 AM
Comments
No worries - the EU is off-course soon beginning to pay again ;-(
Posted by: Hodja at August 21, 2007 11:24 AM
You know...it's that damn Palestinian Postal Service. The Hamas fellas put the check in the mail...
At least that's what they said...
Posted by: Nigel at August 21, 2007 10:00 PM
The Night The Lights Went Out In Gaza.
Isn't that a catchy name for a song?
May have been done already though.
Posted by: Vinnie at August 22, 2007 01:21 AM
When will they realise that it's all run by terrorists?? if the nation won't spit them out, it will only get worse. They have terrorist leaders instead of politicians. I am not suprised and do not feel any compassion for their situation. They brought it upon themselves, they should pay for it. Back in the past, any terrorist group was eliminated immediately. today they are a governmental party. does that make any sense to you???
Posted by: Nitai at August 24, 2007 12:17 PM