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Israel’s fear of reprisals leaves Gaza facing more power cuts

Gaza’s sole power plant will have to shut down within 48 hours if a blockade imposed by Israel is not lifted, officials warned on Thursday, as border tensions simmered following the arrest of a Palestinian militant leader.

Israeli authorities have closed all crossings into Gaza, cutting off access for the fuel trucks that supply the plant, over fears of retaliation attacks following Monday’s arrest of Bassam Al-Saadi, a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

Footage shared on social media shows 62-year-old Bassam al-Saadi being dragged on the ground by Israeli forces in Jenin.

Already facing cuts that leave them with just 10 hours of electricity a day, Gaza residents would face further blackouts if the plant stopped operating, leaving the enclave’s only external source of power a supply of 120 megawatts that is purchased from Israel.

“That would have a grave impact on the daily life of over two million people and vital services,” said Mohammad Thabit, of Gaza’s power distribution company.

As well as stopping the transport of goods and aid into Gaza, the shutdown – which entered its third day on Thursday – has also prevented workers from crossing into Israel. Residents on the Israeli side have complained of restrictions on movement.

Egyptian mediators stepped up efforts with Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to lower tensions after Saadi’s arrest during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, in which a 17-year-old member of Islamic Jihad was killed.

The militant group declared a full alert among its fighters, implying a threat of imminent retaliation, after footage circulating in Israeli media appeared to show Saadi may have been hurt during his arrest.

Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua’, a spokesman for Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, condemned Israel’s closures and said his group had also been in talks with mediators.

Israeli officials have so far offered no comment on the circumstances of Saadi’s arrest and suggested the blockade will remain in place while the Islamic Jihad threat persists.

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