In a worrying development, the sole power plant in the Gaza Strip has come to a halt due to a lack of fuel, according to the energy authority. Jalal Ismail, the head of the authority, announced that the power plant ceased functioning at 2:00pm local time. This comes after earlier warnings about the plant running out of fuel.
Adding to the escalating crisis, Israel recently declared a “total siege” on the besieged enclave, blocking crucial supplies such as food, water, and fuel from entering Gaza. Furthermore, a fresh wave of rockets has been launched towards southern Israel, with images showing flames dangerously close to residential buildings in Ashkelon. The al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Amidst these dire circumstances, Egypt has held discussions with the United States and other nations to provide humanitarian aid through the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. The aid, which would be delivered under a limited ceasefire, aims to alleviate the mounting distress faced by the people in Gaza. The Egyptian security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed these plans to Reuters news agency.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned Israel’s blockade and airstrikes on Gaza, characterising them as a disproportionate response amounting to a “massacre.” Erdogan emphasised that even in times of war, there should be a sense of moral responsibility, which he believes has been severely violated. He denounced Israel’s actions of cutting off electricity and water to Gaza, as well as destroying essential infrastructure, as shameful and lacking ethical foundations. Erdogan urged the international community to refrain from blindly siding with one party and called for a more balanced perspective.
The situation has become even more tragic, as the Palestinian Red Crescent has reported that four of its paramedics were killed in Israeli air attacks. Three paramedics lost their lives when an air raid directly targeted an ambulance belonging to the Red Crescent in the northern part of Gaza. The fourth paramedic was killed in a separate bombing in the eastern area of the enclave. The aid group has expressed deep sorrow over these devastating losses.
