A look at Gaza, the 140-square-mile strip at the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
USA TodayOct 25, 2023
Gaza's Sole Power Plant Shuts Down, Israel Forms Unity Government
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Image copyright: Chris McGrath [via Getty Images]
The Facts
The head of the Gaza Energy Authority announced that the last operational power plant in the enclave stopped working on Wednesday for lack of fuel, leaving only generators to power hospitals and maintain other critical services.
This blackout comes as Israel has adopted a "total" blockade on the Gaza Strip in retaliation against the Hamas surprise attack last weekend, cutting off the electricity supply and blocking the entry of food and fuel to the densely-populated enclave. The fuel stock to operate generators will reportedly end on Thursday.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Extraordinary violence has been committed on both sides, with a humanitarian catastrophe in the making in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli occupation forces are collectively punishing harmless Palestinian civilians with a complete siege that has cut off food, water, and fuel in addition to continued bombardments targeting residential zones.
Pro-Israel narrative
While it's obvious that not all Palestinians are pro-terrorism, civilian suffering was foreseen by Hamas when it decided to carry out atrocities against Israel. The so-called moderate Palestinian Authority has exacerbated the violence by calling on its people to kill Israelis. While Israeli forces try to mitigate civilian suffering, they have been left with no option but to repel a violent attack.
