Wiktor Wise
Israel has a history of restricting electricity supply to Palestinian areas, particularly Gaza. In 2018, a deal was struck to shift the West Bank power supply to the Palestinian Authority, reducing Israeli control over the Palestinian electricity sector. However, Gaza, which is largely blockaded by Israel, continues to experience power cuts and fuel shortages. Israel has also been accused of using electricity debt as a pretext to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority and of impeding Palestinian development plans in the electricity sector. The situation has led to humanitarian crises, with essential services such as desalination plants being affected.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity supply | 87% of Palestine's electricity comes from Israel, with the rest from Jordan and Egypt, supported by local power generation through solar photovoltaic plants. |
| Electricity distribution | The largest distribution company in Palestine is the Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), which supplies more than 50% of the demand. In Gaza, the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company operates the entire electricity distribution system. |
| Electricity shortage | Gaza suffers from a severe shortage of electricity, with frequent blackouts and up to 18 hours of power cuts per day due to fuel shortages and power-sharing disputes. |
| Israeli restrictions | Israel has been accused of using electricity debt as a pretext to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and restrict fuel supplies to Gaza as a siege tactic. Israel has also targeted the West Bank's energy supply, cutting power to municipalities that failed to pay their power bills. |
| Impact | The restriction of electricity supply affects desalination plants producing drinking water, medical care, and essential services. It also contributes to food insecurity and uncertainty with prices on essentials tripling. |
| Palestinian response | Palestine has developed plans to reduce dependence on Israel for electricity by developing generation, transmission, and distribution systems, with funding from the World Bank. |
| Recent developments | In 2018, Israel agreed to shift the West Bank power supply to the Palestinian Authority in a $775 million deal, reducing complete Israeli control over the Palestinian electricity sector. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Israel's restriction of electricity to Gaza
Israel has been known to restrict electricity supply to Palestinian areas, particularly Gaza. In 2025, Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, affecting a desalination plant that produced drinking water. This caused a food crisis, with prices of essentials tripling.
Palestine gets 87% of its electricity from Israel, with the rest coming from Jordan, Egypt, and local power generation. Gaza, in particular, suffers from a severe shortage of electricity, with a maximum capacity of 350 megawatts, meeting only 45% of the load demand. Before October 7, 2023, Gaza spent more than a fifth of its GDP on energy imported from Israel and received only 10 hours of electricity per day.
Israeli authorities have a history of using electricity supply as a means of control and punishment. In 2021, they restricted electricity supply to Gaza, and in 2022, they reduced the flow of fuel, limiting the power plant's ability to generate electricity. In 2015, the IEC cut power to Nablus and Jenin when these municipalities failed to pay their power bills after Israel withheld tax revenues from the PA.
The Israeli occupation also hinders Palestinian development plans in the electricity sector, such as building transmission grids or ensuring network connectivity between cities and governorates. This has led to an urgent need for Palestine to reduce its dependence on Israeli suppliers and move towards self-sufficiency in the electricity sector, with a focus on renewable energy sources like solar power.
Tri County Electric: ERCOT's Texas Power Provider
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The impact on desalination plants
Israel's decision to cut off electricity to Gaza's main operational desalination plant has had a significant impact on the plant's ability to produce drinking water. The plant, which was providing 18,000 cubic meters of water per day for central Gaza's Deir al-Balah area, saw its capacity reduced by 85% due to the power outage. As a result, it could only produce 3,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day, leading to water shortages and affecting the lives of civilians in central and southern Gaza.
The plant is expected to run on generators, producing around 2,500 cubic meters of water per day, but Israel's restrictions on fuel entering Gaza have further impacted the plant's operations. Fuel is necessary for distribution trucks, and its scarcity has led to concerns about water distribution. The situation has been described as a "water and sanitation catastrophe" by Amnesty International, and the United Nations human rights office has stated that "any denial of the entry of the necessities of life for civilians may amount to collective punishment."
The decision to cut off electricity to the desalination plant came a week after Israel halted the entry of all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, to Gaza. This has left residents grappling with food insecurity and a tripling of prices for essential goods. Israel's actions have been criticized as inhumane and unlawful, with Hamas and others claiming that they are part of Israel's "starvation policy" to exert pressure on negotiations.
The impact of the electricity restriction on the desalination plant has had direct consequences for the Palestinian people, particularly those in central and southern Gaza, who rely on the plant for their drinking water. The reduced capacity of the plant has limited their access to this essential resource, exacerbating the already challenging humanitarian situation in the region.
The Evolution of Trains: Diesel vs. Electric Power
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Palestinian Authority's $775 million deal with Israel
In May 2018, Israel signed a $775 million deal with the self-ruling Palestinian Authority to transfer electricity distribution in the West Bank to the PA. The 15-year deal also included the construction of four power plants to that end. Nearly three million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank territory currently rely on Israel for their electricity, with Jordan providing power to the Jericho area.
The agreement does not apply to the Gaza Strip, where two million Palestinians experience frequent blackouts due to severe fuel shortages and power-sharing disputes between Hamas and the PA. The electricity Gaza receives from Israel, Egypt, and a local power plant remains under half the estimated 600 megawatts required to satisfy daily needs.
As part of the deal, the PA will pay off a 915-million-shekel debt to the state-owned utility Israel Electric Corp (IEC). The deal includes collateral and a guarantee mechanism to ensure the IEC is paid. Israeli Finance Ministry Director-General Shai Babad commented that the deal:
> "brings about a new reality in the Palestinians' energy sector, reduces restrictions on electricity supply, strengthens economic stability... and opens a new era in economic relations between the two sides."
In 2024, Israel and the PA struck a deal to release $500 million in withheld Palestinian tax revenues for use in electricity and fuel payments to Israel. The agreement was mediated by the administration of US President Joe Biden, with the goal of using it as a framework for the release of additional withheld funds.
Electric Heaters: Costly to Run?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Israel's control of the Palestinian electricity sector
Israel has long exerted control over the Palestinian electricity sector, with Palestine getting 87% of its electricity from Israel. This reliance on Israeli electricity has left Palestine vulnerable to power cuts and blackouts, which have been used as a tool of collective punishment and to pressure the Palestinian Authority (PA).
In 2015, the IEC cut power to Nablus and Jenin when these municipalities failed to pay their power bills after Israel withheld tax revenues from the PA. This was in retaliation for Palestine's accession to the International Criminal Court. In 2021, Israel restricted the supply of electricity from the IEC to Gaza, and the IDF bombed a recently constructed solar facility. In 2022, Israel again reduced the flow of fuel into Gaza, limiting the power plant's ability to generate electricity.
In 2018, a $775 million deal was struck between Israel and the PA, which saw the West Bank power supply shifted to Palestinian control. This agreement freed the Palestinian electricity sector from complete Israeli control and was expected to pave the way for Palestinians to develop a modern grid. However, the deal did not apply to the Gaza Strip, which continues to suffer frequent blackouts due to fuel shortages and power-sharing disputes.
The Israeli occupation has also hindered the implementation of Palestinian development plans in the electricity sector. For example, the construction of transmission grids to ensure network connectivity between cities and governorates in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip has been prevented. In contrast, the Israeli Civil Administration has accelerated similar plans for Israeli settlements. The lack of Palestinian control over Area C of the West Bank has also limited the government's ability to exploit natural energy resources and develop large-scale solar power plants.
Palestine has recognized the urgent need to reduce its dependence on the Israeli electricity supplier and increase self-sufficiency. This includes maximizing the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy. However, until these plans can be realized, Palestine remains heavily reliant on Israeli electricity, leaving them vulnerable to power cuts and blackouts.
Electric Scooter Rentals: San Diego's Easy, Breezy Commute
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Palestine's aim to reduce dependence on Israel
In March 2025, Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, which affected a desalination plant that produced drinking water. This was part of a larger decision to cut off food and other supplies to Gaza, which left residents grappling with food insecurity and a surge in prices for essentials. Israel's decision was in response to a deadly assault by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and injured over 5,400.
The UN has been involved in ongoing hearings on Israel's legal duties towards Palestinians, including allowing aid to enter Gaza. The UN's position is that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated under international law to ensure supplies for the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israel disputes this, stating that it is complying with international law and that there is no aid shortage.
Palestinians have been working to reduce their dependence on Israel. In 1947, the UN proposed partitioning Palestine into two independent states, one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish, with Jerusalem internationalized. However, the subsequent wars in 1948 and 1967 resulted in Israel occupying Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and the exile of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Despite these challenges, Palestinians continue to strive for self-determination, national independence, and sovereignty, as reaffirmed by the UN General Assembly in 1974.
One way Palestinians are working to reduce their dependence on Israel is by seeking alternative sources of electricity. For example, in 2017, the Palestinian Authority signed an agreement with the Turkish company, Karpowership, to supply electricity to Gaza through a floating power station. Additionally, Palestinians are exploring renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to generate electricity and reduce their reliance on Israel.
Another strategy Palestinians are employing is the development of their local economy and infrastructure. This includes investing in agriculture, industry, and technology to create jobs and reduce poverty. By strengthening their economic foundation, Palestinians can become less reliant on Israeli goods and services. Additionally, Palestinians are advocating for increased international support and recognition of their state, which can help them access resources and aid from the global community, rather than solely relying on Israel.
Electric Impulses: Muscle Fiber Communication
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel has restricted electricity to Palestinian areas, specifically Gaza. In 2025, Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, affecting a desalination plant that produced drinking water.
The restriction of electricity has a significant impact on Palestinians, leading to food insecurity, increased prices for essentials, and limited access to medical care.
Israel has used electricity as a form of collective punishment and a means to exert control over the Palestinian Authority. In 2011, after Hamas' victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections, Israel bombed Gaza's power plant and restricted fuel supplies as a siege tactic.
Palestine gets 87% of its electricity from Israel, with the remaining supplied by Jordan, Egypt, and local power generation.
The Palestinian Authority has taken steps to reduce its dependence on Israeli electricity. In 2018, a $775 million deal was reached to shift the West Bank's power supply to the Palestinian Authority, freeing it from complete Israeli control. The PA is also working on developing a modern grid and maximizing the use of renewable energy sources.
