Lights out in Gaza after Israel blocks fuel

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Large parts of the Gaza Strip plunged into darkness on Sunday when its main power plant shut down after Israel blocked fuel supplies and closed the border to the Hamas-run territory.

Israel said the blockade was in response to rocket attacks from Gaza and that "everything would go back to normal" if militants stopped firing missiles, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said.

Israel has also reduced the flow of petrol used in cars, as well as diesel, but not fuel oil and cooking gas, he said.

Lines formed at bakeries on Sunday as Palestinians stockpiled food and factories and petrol stations were closed after Gaza's electricity generating station turned off the second of its two turbines.

"At least 800,000 people are now in darkness," said Derar Abu Sissi, general director of the plant. "The catastrophe will affect hospitals, medical clinics, water wells, houses, factories, all aspects of life."

Mekel questioned whether the complete shutdown of the generating plant was necessary, suggesting Hamas Islamists had a political interest in exaggerating the impact of the Israeli measures.

According to Israeli and Palestinian officials, Gazans ordinarily consume 200 megawatts of electricity, of which 65 are produced by the local power plant. The rest comes from Israel, which was continuing supply, and Egypt.

Israel tightened its cordon around Gaza on Friday by shutting all border crossings, cutting fuel supplies and even stopping U.N. humanitarian supplies, except in exceptional circumstances.

Officials of the European Union, which funds fuel for the plant, confirmed Sunday's shipment was blocked and that reserves had dried up.

The United Nations on Friday condemned the closures and warned Israel against imposing illegal "collective punishment" against Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

"This is how Israel wants Gaza: a sea of darkness. The civilized world is watching in complete silence," said Gaza store owner Abu Mohammad Osama.

Israeli air strikes killed at least two Palestinian militants on Sunday. The Jewish state has killed dozens of people in the past week in a stepped-up campaign it says targets militants who have attacked border towns with some 230 rockets.

The Palestinians have called Israel's offensive, which included bombing the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza, a "slap in the face" to U.S.-backed peace efforts.

"DESPERATE"

"The darkness in Gaza City tonight is a clear evidence ... of just how desperate the situation has become here now," John Ging, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, told a news conference in the enclave.