EntertainmentNews Israel cuts electricity supply to Gaza, targets Hamas written by Taiwo Adediran June 12, 2017 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, plots Hamas downfall Israel decided to reduce electricity supplied to the Gaza Strip in order to cripple the Islamist Hamas movement, Israeli Public Security Minsiter Gilad Erdan told Kan radio on Monday. “They [Hamas] receive support from Qatar and have received aid from other countries in the past, but they usually choose to put the funds towards building up infrastructure towards terrorism,” Erdan said. Israel’s security cabinet had unanimously decided to slice the supply of electricity to Gaza, already in the throes of an electricity shortage, by about 40 per cent late Sunday, Israeli media reported. The decision was made after an earlier request by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the Palestinian Authority no longer pay for Gaza’s electricity purchased from Israel, Haaretz newspaper said. Israel has been automatically deducting the costs from the Palestinian taxes it collects on goods sent to Palestinian areas. The request is seen as a way for Abbas and his ruling Fatah party to put pressure on the rival Hamas movement to cede control over Gaza. However, Israeli military officials warned that cutting electricity could worsen the situation in the Gaza Strip and escalate violence. The some two million residents of the coastal enclave have dealt with electricity shortages for years and currently have electricity for only about four hours a day after its only power station closed. Qatar is under pressure from its neighbours to stop funding terrorist activity, including Hamas. Gaza has been under a tight Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamic group took over the region. (dpa) Join our twitter community : Follow @royaltimesng 0 comment 0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest Taiwo Adediran previous post Acting president to sign 2017 national budget today next post 24 Boko Haram insurgents arrested in Auchi You may also like Two Congressional staffers attacked with baseball bat May 16, 2023 Jubilation as Isapa gets new monarch July 25, 2021 Gbagi will turn Delta to ‘semi-Dubai’ ― Melejuya November 25, 2020 NCDC activates four more testing labs June 18, 2020 Osinbajo, Emir of Kano meet in Aso Rock June 15, 2017 Oscars 2019 ceremony to go without host after... February 6, 2019 Endless wait for passports must stop, says interior... August 23, 2023 Kwara Government Reaffirms Commitment to Citizens’ Welfare, Approves... February 18, 2024 Educationist wants investment in vocational, technical education July 18, 2017 Government Charged On Prioritizing Doctors Demand, As Resident... May 18, 2023 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ