Fact Sheet, April 17, 2008
- Gaza residents are completely dependent on fuel delivered via the Nahal Oz crossing between Israel and Gaza - Israel does not permit Gaza residents to receive fuel from any other source or by any other means
- Gaza's fuel shortage began six months ago, when Israel restricted the quantities of fuel that it permits Gaza residents to purchase
- The shortages got worse with a strike and closure of Nahal Oz.
Restrictions on the transfer of fuel to the Gaza Strip
Nahal Oz, between Israel and the Gaza Strip, is the only point on Gaza's borders - land, air and sea - through which Israel permits fuel to be supplied. Beginning Oct. 28, 2007, Israel imposed severe restrictions on the fuel amounts it allows to enter via the crossing.
Currently, Israel permits Gaza residents to receive just 75,400 liters of petrol (gasoline) per week, compared with the 350,000-400,000 liters weekly that they ordered prior to the cuts - a reduction of 81%. Similarly, Israel permits Gaza residents to receive just 800,000 liters of ordinary diesel weekly, compared with the 1.4 million liters purchased weekly six months ago - a reduction of 43%. Israel permits Gaza's power plant to receive just 2.2 million liters of industrial diesel each week, which allows the plant to produce 55 megawatts electricity. The plant needs 3.5 million liters industrial diesel per week, in order to operate at its current capacity of 80 megawatts.
The restrictions on the supply of industrial diesel exacerbate the shortage of electricity that has existed since Israel bombed Gaza's power plant in June 2006: Gaza needs up to 240 megawatts electricity during peak periods. Israel sells 120 megawatts of electricity, Egypt supplies 17 megawatts, and the power plant currently generates just 55 megawatts, for a total supply of 192 megawatts. Gaza experiences a deficit of up to 20% in electricity during peak periods, causing power outages which currently stand at 4-6 hours per day. The power outages are expected to lengthen during the summer peak. Israel does not "donate" the industrial diesel to Gaza - it is paid for by the European Union, whose representatives oversee its transfer from Nahal Oz to the power plant.
On April 9, 2008, following an attack on Nahal Oz by Palestinian militants that killed two Israeli civilians, Israel closed the crossing for a week and prevented the supply of all kinds of fuel, including cooking gas, petrol, diesel, and industrial diesel. As a result, on April 16, Gaza's power plant reduced production to 40 MW, exacerbating power cuts.