The Palestinian government in the West Bank says it will restore the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip after it asked Israel to cut off power last summer, a move that could nearly double the daily connection time in the power shortage-weary enclave.
Israel, the main provider of power to Gaza, cut supplies in June at the request of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in an effort to pressure Hamas, the rulers of the Gaza Strip. The Islamic militant group seized power in Gaza in 2007 after violently driving Abbas' forces out.
PA Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh said Wednesday that his committee, which liaises with Israel, has requested that the Israeli supply of 50 megawatts of power to Gaza, out of a total 120 megawatts, be restored.
Al-Sheikh said the PA would guarantee that Israel would receive payment for Gaza's electricity bill.
Gaza's 2 million residents now receive only three to four hours of electricity a day, with schools, factories, hospitals and households affected. A Gaza economist said restoration of power from Israel would raise that figure to six hours.
Gaza's sole power station generates only a small amount of electricity.
Hamas has condemned the power cuts as collective punishment.
