Gazans protest power cuts
- 7 years ago
Security forces in Hamas-controlled northern Gaza have broken up protests by thousands of people calling for an end to power cuts.
For weeks nearly two million residents have been coping with less than half their usual electricity supply, barely four hours per day in the middle of winter.
Hamas officers began firing into the air as the crowd marched from Jebaliya refugee camp towards the state-run electricity company’s headquarters.
A spokesperson for the Islamist movement said they wanted to prevent the protesters from storming the building.
The plant, which was heavily damaged during a conflict with Israel in 2014, remains at half of its potential capacity. Officials say they need almost 500 million euros to get the power network running properly.
For weeks nearly two million residents have been coping with less than half their usual electricity supply, barely four hours per day in the middle of winter.
Hamas officers began firing into the air as the crowd marched from Jebaliya refugee camp towards the state-run electricity company’s headquarters.
A spokesperson for the Islamist movement said they wanted to prevent the protesters from storming the building.
The plant, which was heavily damaged during a conflict with Israel in 2014, remains at half of its potential capacity. Officials say they need almost 500 million euros to get the power network running properly.