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Last update - 00:00 10/11/2008
Amira Hass / Powerless in Gaza, residents rely on the tunnels
By Amira Hass, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Hamas, Gaza, blockade 

Since Sunday morning, Gaza City has gone back to readying for long blackouts. In the Tel el Hawa neighborhood in the southern part of the city, the electricity went out at 8 a.m. When children came home from school, the lights had still not come back on. When their parents returned from work, the electricity was still out.

The parents had to climb six stories with baskets from the market; even when the lights are working, it's best not to use the elevators, because you never know when the power will be cut. The sun set, and 8-year-old Karim told his father it would not be his fault if he couldn't study for his English test, and brought home a 98 instead of 100 (he had been promised NIS 20 for a perfect score).

In the center of the Gaza evening, car headlights cut the darkness on Omar al Mukhtar Boulevard, the Champs Elysees of Gaza City.
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On Wednesday, Israel closed all crossings into Gaza and stopped the fuel supply, including industrial fuel. The Gaza power station can supply 80 megawatts a day, but needs 3.15 million liters of industrial fuel a week to do so. Starting January 17, however, Israel began reducing the supply, and the power station only gets 2.5 million liters a week.

On Sunday morning, the power station shut down one unit out of three. On Sunday night, on the assumption that the power supply would not be renewed by midnight, the station was planning on shutting down the second unit, and the third this morning. If the crossings are not opened, and Israel does not renew the fuel supply, Gaza will feel it immediately.

People here do not depend on miracles. The Tel el Hawa grocery store ran out of candles shortly after people realized their refrigerator had stopped running. Even the big supermarket in the exclusive Rimal neighborhood had no candles by the end of the morning. In the afternoon, a package of Egyptian candles came through the tunnels. A shekel a candle, but an hour and a half later, by sunset, the price had quadrupled.

A more creative solution: Use a car battery with USB cables - that gives enough electricity for a few lights in the important places in the house.

The mild weather means the demand for electricity is relatively low: 220 megawatt a day, not 240. Last week, a few days of rain and cold drove up the demand, with the outages starting right away. Even on "normal days" when the crossings are open, the power supply is only 202 megawatt per day - 65 from Gaza, 120 purchased from Israel and 17 from Egypt. Some of the latter quantity, which comes through Rafah, operates the generators in the tunnels, for digging, light and moving merchandise, coming at the expense of electricity to homes.

The gap between supply and demand means that neighborhoods must wait their turn for electricity, with breaks of a few hours in between.

This is another opportunity to bless the existence of the tunnels. Egyptian diesel fuel costs NIS 2.50 a liter, while Israeli diesel costs NIS 4. Those who have generators at home can find diesel at the gas stations (which now have one Israeli pump and one Egyptian pump).


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      1.   POWERLESS?Firing dozens of missiles at Israelis 05:13  |  PETER SM 10/11/08
      2.   Amira, I am with you, but just puzzled.... 08:41  |  Esther 10/11/08
      3.   Another lousy Amira Haas paid political msg for the Pals 09:41  |  Joe Sittizen 10/11/08
      4.   Amira, why Israel is responsible for the Sate Of Gaza? 09:56  |  Alex 10/11/08
      5.   I don`t understand why Israeli gas NIS 4, but Egyptian 2.50? 10:00  |  Ron 10/11/08
      6.   This is pure evil .... 10:22  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      7.   Haaretz, BLATANT PROPAGANDA 10:25  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      8.   Haaretz, BLATANT PROPAGANDA 10:34  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      9.   Powerless 10:48  |  sharon 10/11/08
      10.   ALL that Gaza has to do is to:...... 10:51  |  Arthur 10/11/08
      11.   what a shameful and cruel thing to do to anyone 11:20  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      12.   Does anyone have a conscience over there? 11:24  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      13.   Dutch. How can I begin to thank you 11:55  |  Amira Hess 10/11/08
      14.   #7 Propaganda, Margie? 12:02  |  Ben Alofs 10/11/08
      15.   Amira Hess on Champs Elyssee of Gaza 12:10  |  Ari ben Yisrael 10/11/08
      16.   Reply to Dutch`s question 12:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      17.   Ron and Gasoline 12:20  |  Elianah 10/11/08
      18.   Dutch 12:23  |  Elianah 10/11/08
      19.   Fuel? 13:01  |  Yakov 10/11/08
      20.   What is missing from this article 13:04  |  Murray 10/11/08
      21.   Does anyone have a conscience over there? 13:37  |  Yakov 10/11/08
      22.   Amira negotiating 13:43  |  Dr D 10/11/08
      23.   Dutch, you should aslo be asking.... 13:43  |  Esther 10/11/08
      24.   To Dutch 13:47  |  Dr D 10/11/08
      25.   Haaretz, well done! 13:54  |  Sky 10/11/08
      26.   Dutch: Get a grip 13:58  |  Jasper 10/11/08
      27.   Reply to Dutch`s question 14:10  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      28.   Margie and her own propoganda 14:31  |  javier 10/11/08
      29.   any word on what the EU MK`s have in store 14:33  |  for Barak 10/11/08
      30.   I USED TO CARE 14:37  |  Steve 10/11/08
      31.   hope Amira will stay in Gaza, end enjoy candels 14:52  |  maurice 10/11/08
      32.   javier`s version of propaganda 15:00  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      33.   Response? 15:02  |  JW 10/11/08
      34.   #2 Esther 15:13  |  Said 10/11/08
      35.   But, Said #34, you also do a bit of twisting of history 15:30  |  Esther 10/11/08
      36.   Blatant Chamas Manipulation as usual 15:43  |  Daniel 10/11/08
      37.   hamas literally taking the pals back to the stone age 15:51  |  don 10/11/08
      38.   Esther, I can`t believe you are blaming the victims 16:18  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      39.   Gaza is independent 16:19  |  Arie 10/11/08
      40.   How Did Gazans Get to This ? 16:21  |  Miri 10/11/08
      41.   amira hass 16:29  |  Fredy Ross 10/11/08
      42.   More Shades To Gaza 16:32  |  D. Boller 10/11/08
      43.   #34: Thank G-d People in the West Know Better 16:33  |  Miri 10/11/08
      44.   Mrs Dutch 16:39  |  Dr Noam 10/11/08
      45.   Amira I am sure you waited all day to 16:41  |  Gil 10/11/08
      46.   Amira Hass / Powerless in Gaza, residents rely on the tunnels 16:59  |  Claudia 10/11/08
      47.   Do all 8 year olds get an automatic 100 in the English Test? 17:01  |  Gil 10/11/08
      48.   I am sure they are all running to the Israeli pump 17:16  |  Gil 10/11/08
      49.   #46: Israelis Are Under No Illusions When it Comes to Public Opi 17:17  |  Miri 10/11/08
      50.   AMIRA is breaking my heart 17:18  |  YEHUDA 10/11/08
      51.   Hey, Maybe Mrs. Arafat Can Help ! 17:33  |  Miri 10/11/08
      52.   Tunnels for terror is the art of the Arabs 18:01  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      53.   Amira wailing to hamas 18:02  |  peter 10/11/08
      54.   Margie 18:05  |  Guido 10/11/08
      55.   Haaretzs blackened reputation is getting more 18:09  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      56.   TOMY? i don`t agree! i think haaretz is becoming an international 18:25  |  voice for peace 10/11/08
      57.   Hamas was a result of the unconscionable actions of the IDF 18:34  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      58.   Oh Boo HOO! Attackers of Israel getting SOME of what they deserve 18:46  |  Yaakov K. 10/11/08
      59.   enough is enough 19:07  |  it might be time 10/11/08
      60.   Yes GUIDO lets 19:15  |  Gil 10/11/08
      61.   it might NOT be time! 19:43  |  remember last war 10/11/08
      62.   A Nation Lacking A Moral Compass 19:55  |  chet 10/11/08
      63.   U.S. sent food, fuel, electricity, weapons, to Bin Laden 20:01  |  Yacov 10/11/08
      64.   #61 it is time 20:03  |  enough 10/11/08
      65.   Dutch: You`re Missing a Few Paragraphs 20:05  |  Miri 10/11/08
      66.   #56 voice of peace , Do you really think 20:06  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      67.   Dutch`s Omissions 20:11  |  Miri 10/11/08
      68.   Dr Noam and his fictional self defense 20:24  |  Dutch 10/11/08
      69.   Amria Hass 20:28  |  Connie 10/11/08
      70.   That`s funny Dutch. I thought "pure evil" referred to... 20:35  |  bbl 10/11/08
      71.   TOMY: I had a chance to be on the first ship to 20:40  |  break the seige 10/11/08
      72.   Dutch: You Are One Misguided ..... 20:46  |  Miri 10/11/08
      73.   #70 brake the seige , you do not have to breake 20:53  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      74.   whern the zionist turned the lights out in gaza 20:56  |  i caught the next 10/11/08
      75.   TOMY: you might remeber Laila El-Haddad 21:02  |  did a similar 10/11/08
      76.   TOMY there is a seige 21:05  |  no one gets in 10/11/08
      77.   TOMY you don`t just walk across whatever gate 21:38  |  gaza under seige 10/11/08
      78.   Murray`s blame 21:53  |  SDHD 10/11/08
      79.   The nameless one with the wondering mind - 22:19  |  obamama 10/11/08
      80.   no actually SDHD hamas won the election 22:25  |  and the seige began 10/11/08
      81.   Dutch 22:34  |  Dr Noam 10/11/08
      82.   To all seige brakers , Israel has a policy not 22:38  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      83.   Nicompoops 22:40  |  Richard 10/11/08
      84.   obamama you did not give thoise people anything but trouble 22:45  |  gaza was 10/11/08
      85.   #75 did a simmilar , All those documentaries you mention 22:47  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      86.   Richard 22:52  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/11/08
      87.   In all fairness , lets not forget the reason 22:53  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      88.   TOMY: documenteries were to show the people of palestine 22:56  |  are resourceful 10/11/08
      89.   #75 resoursefull , The documentaries going to show 23:08  |  TOMY 10/11/08
      90.   It`s Gaza`s fault...as they starve and freeze... 00:35  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      91.   #82, TOMY... 00:37  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      92.   Amira, nice to see you again 00:45  |  Edith 11/11/08
      93.   #78, SDHD`s idea... 00:49  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      94.   #58, Yaakov K..... 00:53  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      95.   Not a single creadible broadcast cames from 00:56  |  TOMY 11/11/08
      96.   #90 Silnienne , you are right 01:35  |  TOMY 11/11/08
      97.   #89 Silvienne , another pro terror daiatribe 02:36  |  TOMY 11/11/08
      98.   Poor Pals have to eat RPG`s smuggled from Egypt. 04:05  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/11/08
      99.   #Margie, do give it a rest... 05:17  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      100.   #97, TOMY, don`t understand your post... 05:23  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      101.   #97, TOMY., I didn`t write post #89... 05:24  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      102.   #89, TOMY... 05:26  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      103.   #98, Fortuna Menmayor...brainwashing of children? 05:31  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      104.   #39, Arie..independent, you say? 05:34  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      105.   Mind Games 05:46  |  Elad Lending 11/11/08
      106.   #94, Silvienne: and perhaps pigs will fly! 09:20  |  Yaakov K. 11/11/08
      107.   Silvienne why don`t you start by condemning the rockets? 09:26  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/11/08
      108.   #90 Silvienne you have no idea of the ME 09:46  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/11/08
      109.   bbi, Evil has many faces 10:34  |  Dutch 11/11/08
      110.   #92Edith have a question 10:48  |  eva 11/11/08
      111.   #Joe Sitizen 11:02  |  eve 11/11/08
      112.   Miri, Re Palestinian National Trauma 11:42  |  Dutch 11/11/08
      113.   You would have to feel sorry for the people living in Gaza 12:14  |  Adriaan Dobois 11/11/08
      114.   #7 Calm down Margie in Tel Aviv. 13:32  |  Maureen Ann 11/11/08
      115.   Hass Does Great Damage... 14:00  |  David Samson 11/11/08
      116.   Bizarre 15:50  |  The Northern Wind 11/11/08
      117.   why lie?Israel`s enemies are not powerless,due the wolf leaders 16:42  |  glenna 11/11/08
      118.   Powerless because of their willingness 16:56  |  Daniel 11/11/08
      119.   A guilty conscience 17:18  |  Murray 11/11/08
      120.   #107, Margie... 17:32  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      121.   #108, Margie, I was being sarcastic!!! 17:37  |  Silvienne 11/11/08
      122.   Anybody after reading this does not feel sad 20:18  |  jaffar 11/11/08
      123.   they are powerless only in that hammas will not allow second vote 23:24  |  ralph 11/11/08
      124.   115 Donald Samson `s scapegoating 09:02  |  Dutch 12/11/08
      125.   #10 Arthur Put up or shut up 11:16  |  Jim 12/11/08
      126.   #39 Arie Be warned! 12:43  |  Jim 12/11/08
      127.   #43 Min 12:57  |  Jim 12/11/08
      128.   Maureen Ann 13:20  |  Peter Williams 12/11/08
      129.   #62 Chet On Collective Punishment 13:20  |  Jim 12/11/08
      130.   #126, Jim, thanks for an excellent post! 19:22  |  Silvienne 12/11/08
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