Gaza Electricity : 80% of distribution networks destroyed
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The Director of Public Relations and Media at the Electricity Distribution Company in the Gaza Strip, Muhammad Thabet, said that the electricity sector in Gaza has suffered unprecedented and heavy losses since the start of the Israeli war of extermination on October 7, 2023.
The estimated value of damages so far has reached approximately $728 million, noting that the largest portion of the Strip’s infrastructure has been completely out of service.
Thabet explained to the Filastin newspaper yesterday that more than 80% of the electricity distribution networks in Gaza were completely destroyed, in addition to the destruction of more than 80% of the company’s multi-purpose vehicles and machinery, 90% of its warehouses and storage facilities, including maintenance materials, and 70% of the company’s buildings and facilities. Since the first day of the Gaza war, the Israeli occupation has cut off electricity to the Strip. Former Defense Minister Yoav Galant issued a series of punitive decisions, most notably cutting off the power lines supplying the population and halting the entry of fuel needed to operate the only power plant, the extent of the damage to which is still unknown. Thabet explained that the sector was deprived of more than two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity during the war, while the company lost 60 of its cadres and workers as martyrs, in addition to more than 100 technicians and engineers who were wounded.
He stressed that what happened represents a “national and humanitarian tragedy” that affected various aspects of life in the sector. He pointed out that the current loss estimates remain preliminary, as the company’s teams were unable to reach some of the “red areas” to assess the damage there.
He explained that the announced amount includes only the distribution sector and does not include losses in the “transmission and generation sectors,” which also suffered significant damage.
