Beatrice Lang
Israel has long exerted control over the Gaza Strip, influencing the flow of supplies, humanitarian aid, and electricity into the region. This has resulted in an energy crisis in Gaza, impacting the lives of its 2 million Palestinian residents. While some have claimed that Israel provides free electricity to Gaza, this is inaccurate. Israel sells electricity to the Palestinians, with payment automatically deducted from tax funds collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. The complex dynamics between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Fatah have further exacerbated the electricity crisis in Gaza, with political tensions and military conflicts often disrupting the supply of electricity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Israel provide free electricity to Gaza? | No, Israel does not provide free electricity to Gaza. |
| Who provides electricity to Gaza? | Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) provides electricity to Gaza. |
| Who pays for the electricity provided by IEC? | The Palestinian Authority (PA) pays the bills to IEC for the electricity supplied to Gaza. |
| Is there an energy crisis in Gaza? | Yes, there is an energy crisis in Gaza due to restricted fuel supply and damage to the power plant and power lines during conflicts. |
| How does the energy crisis impact the people of Gaza? | The energy crisis has negatively impacted the mental health of 92% of citizens, and 82% are unable to refrigerate food. |
| What are the political tensions surrounding the energy crisis? | Tensions exist between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority (PA), and Fatah over custom tax revenue, funding of Gaza, and political authority. |
| What are the humanitarian consequences of the energy crisis? | The energy crisis has worsened humanitarian circumstances, making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to provide aid to the people of Gaza. |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel controls all access to the Gaza Strip, including electricity
- Israel sells electricity to Gaza, it is not free
- Israel collects tax funds on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, from which payment for electricity is deducted
- During the early stages of the Gaza war, Israel shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza
- Israel has been accused of directly targeting the Gaza Power Plant and electric power lines during conflicts
Israel controls all access to the Gaza Strip, including electricity
Israel has been in control of all access to the Gaza Strip for decades, including electricity. This has resulted in an energy crisis in Gaza, where 2 million Palestinians live without reliable access to resources. Israel controls the supply of electricity to Gaza through its electricity company, which supplies power through 10 lines, and via the Gaza Power Plant.
The amount of electricity produced in Gaza and supplied by Israel has been drastically reduced over time. Israel has banned the entry of fuel for the power plant, which has decreased electricity production in Gaza. There have also been accusations of Israel's military directly targeting the power plant and electric power lines during conflicts to further limit access to electricity for Palestinians in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) was paying Israel for water and power for Gaza until 2017, when it stopped paying the electricity bills issued by the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC). During the early stages of the Gaza War, Israel shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza. In 2020, the Gaza power plant shut down after Israel suspended fuel shipments. In 2021, electric lines from Israel to Gaza were struck by errant Gazan rockets, knocking out three of the ten power lines and severely reducing the electricity supply.
Israel's control over electricity in Gaza has been described as "cruel and unlawful" by Amnesty International, violating international humanitarian law. The organization has called for the immediate restoration of Gaza's electricity supply and unfettered access to essential goods and services for civilians. Israel's actions have worsened the humanitarian circumstances in Gaza, with limited access to clean water, electricity, and medical care.
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Israel sells electricity to Gaza, it is not free
Israel has been accused of controlling the electricity supply to Gaza, which has resulted in an energy crisis in the region. Israel has restricted the supply of electricity to Gaza, which has had a detrimental impact on the humanitarian conditions there.
Gaza's electricity comes from two main sources: Israel's electricity company, which supplies power through 10 lines, and the Gaza Power Plant. However, Israel has banned the entry of fuel used for the power plant, reducing electricity production in Gaza. There have also been accusations of Israel's military forces directly targeting the Gaza Power Plant and electric power lines during conflicts, further reducing access to electricity for the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) was paying Israel for the electricity supplied to Gaza until April 2017, when the PA ceased paying the electricity bills issued by Israel's Electric Corporation (IEC). This decision was reversed in January 2018. During the early stages of the Gaza war, Israel shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza, and the sole remaining power station ran out of fuel in October 2023.
While some sources claim that Israel provides free electricity to Gaza, the situation is complex and dynamic. The PA's decision to stop paying for electricity in 2017 and the subsequent reduction in supply by IEC suggest that Israel sells electricity to Gaza, and it is not provided for free.
In recent years, Israel has used the supply of electricity as a negotiating tactic to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and ending conflicts. In 2025, Israel announced a halt to its supply of power to Gaza, demonstrating that it controls the electricity supply and can restrict or cut off access as a strategic move.
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Israel collects tax funds on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, from which payment for electricity is deducted
Israel has long imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, limiting the amount of fuel supplied to the region. This has resulted in an electricity crisis, with Gazans receiving a rolling blackout schedule of a few hours of electricity a day.
Israel collects tax on goods that pass through Israel into the occupied West Bank on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA). This is done under a longstanding arrangement between the two sides, formalised by the Oslo Accords and the Protocol on Economic Relations (also known as the Paris Protocol), which was signed in 1994 by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel.
The PA is entitled to collect taxes from the Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, but some 75% of the PA's total tax revenue was, as of 2014, collected by Israel on behalf of the PA and transferred to the PA on a monthly basis. Israel has occasionally withheld these taxes, and in 2025, it was reported that Israel planned to use the withheld tax revenue to pay the PA's nearly 2 billion shekel ($544 million) debt to the state-run Israel Electric Co (IEC). The PA's debt is for electricity usage in the West Bank and Gaza, with Israel supplying electricity to these regions.
The Hamas government in Gaza has been reliant on the PA to help provide electricity in Gaza, with import duties on Gaza's fuel purchased via Israel being collected by Israel and passed to the PA, which pays the bills to Israel and Egypt for the electricity they supply to Gaza.
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During the early stages of the Gaza war, Israel shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza
The Israel-Palestine conflict has been an ongoing issue for decades, with both sides facing accusations of human rights violations. One of the critical issues in this conflict is the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip, which has severely impacted the humanitarian and living conditions of Palestinians in the region. Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, and during the early stages of the Gaza war, it shut off the supply of electricity to the region.
The Gaza Strip has faced an electricity crisis for many years, with Israel playing a significant role in restricting the supply of electricity to the region. Israel controls all access in and out of the Gaza Strip, and it has used this control to limit the amount of fuel entering Gaza, which is necessary for power plants to generate electricity. This has resulted in power plants operating at partial capacity and has contributed to the energy crisis in the region.
During the early stages of the Gaza war, Israel took the decision to shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza completely. This action had devastating consequences for the people living in the region, as it left them without access to basic necessities and services that rely on electricity. The exact date of the power shutoff is not clear, but it is known to have occurred during the early stages of the conflict.
The electricity crisis in Gaza has had far-reaching impacts on the lives of Palestinians in the region. According to a study, 92% of citizens feel that the lack of electricity has negatively affected their mental health, and 82% are unable to refrigerate food due to the power outages. The lack of reliable electricity also hinders humanitarian efforts to provide aid to those in need.
The energy crisis in Gaza is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. One of the main issues is the tension between Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah, which rules the West Bank. The PA is responsible for helping provide electricity in Gaza, but it has faced challenges in doing so due to the tense relationship with Hamas. Additionally, Israel's control over access to the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on fuel imports have exacerbated the crisis.
In conclusion, during the early stages of the Gaza war, Israel's decision to shut off the supply of electricity to Gaza had severe consequences for the people in the region. The electricity crisis in Gaza is an ongoing issue that has impacted the humanitarian and living conditions of Palestinians, and it is essential to recognize the role of various factors, including the tensions between different factions and Israel's control over access to the region.
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Israel has been accused of directly targeting the Gaza Power Plant and electric power lines during conflicts
Israel denied deliberately targeting the plant, claiming that their forces may have hit it accidentally. However, Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, deputy chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Authority in Gaza, stated that the area where the plant was located was under heavy bombing at the time. He also mentioned that firefighters could not approach the plant due to ongoing attacks in the vicinity. Human Rights Watch was unable to determine whether Palestinian fighters were present in the area when the plant was struck.
The impact of the power plant attack was significant. A week after the strike, some electricity service was restored to most neighbourhoods, but it was still less than the limited pre-conflict levels. Hospitals in Gaza City relied on large generators for six to eight hours a day and smaller generators for the remaining time, as the power outages affected medical equipment, elevators, and air conditioners, posing dangers to patients and making it difficult for staff to work long hours.
In addition to the power plant attack, there have been accusations of Israel's military forces targeting electric power lines during conflicts. During the 2021 Israel-Palestine crisis, errant Gazan rockets struck electric lines supplying Gaza from Israel, knocking out three out of ten power lines. This further reduced the already limited electricity supply in Gaza.
Israel has been the sole provider of electricity and fuel to Gaza, and they have been accused of shutting off the supply of electricity during conflicts, contributing to the electricity crisis in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Israel does not provide free electricity to Gaza. Israel sells electricity to the Palestinians, and the payment is automatically deducted from the tax funds Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
Yes, Israel controls all entry points into Gaza, and has used this control to restrict the supply of fuel to the power plant, reducing electricity production in the region. Israel has also been accused of directly targeting the Gaza Power Plant during conflicts, further reducing access to electricity for Palestinians.
The energy crisis in Gaza has had a significant impact on the humanitarian and living conditions of the 2 million Palestinians living there. A study found that 92% of citizens feel that the lack of electricity has negatively affected their mental health, and 82% are unable to refrigerate food due to the power shortage.
The electricity crisis in Gaza is predominantly the result of tensions between Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah, which rules the West Bank. The Hamas government in Gaza has been reliant on the PA to help provide electricity, with import duties on fuel purchased via Israel being passed to the PA, which then pays Israel and Egypt for the electricity they supply to Gaza.
