Gaza's Sole Power Plant Down After Israel Attack

The only power plant supplying
electricity to the Gaza Strip was knocked out of
commission by Israeli shelling, deputy director
of the energy authority in the Palestinian
territory said on Tuesday.
"Gaza's sole power plant has stopped working
due to Israeli shelling last night, which
damaged the steam generator and later hit the
fuel tanks which set them on fire", Fathi al-
Sheikh Khalil told AFP.
An AFP reporter saw huge fires raging near the
plant on Tuesday morning, noting that fire
department vehicles were still unable to reach
the area.
The damage of the power plant exacerbated the
heavy damage to civilian infrastructure in Gaza
already inflicted during the 22 days of the Israeli
offensive aimed at stamping out militant rocket
fire and destroying attack tunnels.
Besides the power plant, Gaza also purchases
electricity from Israel, but many of the supply
lines have been badly damaged by the recent
fighting, Sheikh Khalil said.
"Five out of 10 of the Israeli electricity lines into
the Gaza Strip were also damaged because of
Israeli shelling, and maintenance still cannot
reach the areas and fix them", he explained.