Gaza's Ongoing Electricity Crisis: Families Living in Darkness Despite Ceasefire Agreement

Electricity disappeared in Gaza when its power station exhausted fuel supplies shortly after the conflict began. (File)

Gaza:

Hanan al-Joujou, a 31-year-old Palestinian mother, must feed her three children using only a flashlight in the darkness as Gaza remains without electricity even following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire established last month.

When the family cannot afford to charge their flashlight, they go without eating.

"We remain in complete darkness once the sun sets and the Maghrib prayer is called," explained al-Joujou, referencing the Muslim sunset prayer. "If we have flashlight power available, we use it. Otherwise, we go to sleep hungry and in darkness."

Her family has lived without electricity since the war erupted over two years ago, initially relying on candles after being displaced to Rafah in southern Gaza.

Eventually, they abandoned even candles due to fire risks in their tent. "We attempted using a simple LED light, but it broke. We lack funds for repairs. We tried obtaining a battery, but they're expensive and scarce," al-Joujou shared.

Before the conflict, Gaza primarily relied on imported electricity from Israel, though supply was inconsistent. The enclave received 120 megawatts from Israel while Gaza's single power plant provided an additional 60 MW, according to local officials.

Shortly after October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants initiated the war by attacking southern Israel, killing 1,200 people according to Israeli figures, Israel imposed a "total siege" on Gaza.

Gaza lost all electricity after its power station depleted its fuel reserves within days.

Now residing in a displacement camp in central Gaza's Nuseirat neighborhood, most family activities cease at sunset. Al-Joujou's children use flashlights for homework when charging is possible.

"We barely have sufficient funds for daily survival," added Hanan's husband Ahmed, 35.

Some residents operate charging stations powered by solar panels or private generators, given how the war has devastated Gaza's electrical infrastructure and distribution cables.

Mohammed al-Hor's family ran such a solar-powered charging business from their home, which was later struck by Israeli forces. "Our charging station was bombed, and my brother was martyred inside," the 32-year-old recounted.

PUNISHMENT

In March this year, Israeli minister Eli Cohen announced he had instructed the Electric Corporation to cease electricity sales to Gaza as punitive action against Hamas.

Even after the ceasefire, restoring electricity to Gaza—reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardment—would require extensive infrastructure reconstruction.

The conflict has destroyed over 80% of the enclave's electricity distribution networks, with preliminary infrastructure and equipment loss estimates reaching $728 million, according to Mohammed Thabet, media director of Gaza's electricity company.

"For two years now, zero electricity has reached the Gaza Strip. The current supply is absolutely nothing," Thabet told Reuters, noting pre-war requirements were 600 megawatts.

COGAT, the Israeli military division overseeing aid deliveries to Gaza, stated that Israel remains fully committed to facilitating humanitarian aid trucks, including fuel supplies for electricity, in accordance with ceasefire terms.

COGAT added that the Kela power line from Israel had been connected to support two desalination facilities.

In July 2024, Israel also connected a power line to a UN-managed desalination plant in southern Gaza's Khan Younis to provide additional drinking water to Palestinian residents.