In light of the ongoing war and the resulting tragic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the fuel crisis is emerging as one of the most complex and impacting on daily life. With the blockade and the constant targeting of infrastructure, fuel shortages have become a complete paralysis of health facilities and basic services. Hospital generators have stopped, thousands of families have had their water cut off, and ovens have been shut down, while residents stand in long queues in search of basic survival.
Causes of the Fuel Crisis in Gaza
The fuel crisis is one of the most serious crises facing the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli occupation prevents the entry of fuel, despite its urgent need, the most prominent causes of the fuel crisis:
1. Closure of crossings
The crossings in Gaza, especially Kerem Shalom, are the main source of fuel and vital materials entering the Strip. With the current war, the Israeli authorities have closed the crossings completely or drastically reduced the movement of fuel, under the pretext of preventing its use in military activities. This sudden and continuous closure prevented the entry of sufficient quantities of fuel to meet daily needs, which led to the rapid depletion of fuel stocks, and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis with the full reliance on these crossings as the only source.
2. Direct targeting of fuel stations and warehouses
During the military operations, the occupying forces targeted the main fuel distribution stations and storage depots in Gaza directly and deliberately, which resulted in the destruction of large quantities of stored fuel, in addition to serious damage to the infrastructure on which the internal distribution process depends. As a result, officials have been unable to store or distribute fuel regularly and effectively, exacerbating shortages and exacerbating the crisis, as fuel access has become complex and difficult on a large scale.
3. The power plant stopped.
Gaza’s only power plant relies on industrial fuel imported through the crossings, and as the blockade continues and fuel runs out, the plant is completely out of business, resulting in widespread, round-the-clock power outages that have disrupted many vital services such as hospitals, water pumping stations, and communication centers, forcing residents to resort to the use of private generators that consume large amounts of fuel, increasing demand for an already limited fuel, and deepening a shortage.
4. Preventing the entry of fuel as an instrument of military and political pressure
The issue of fuel access to Gaza has become a lever for Israel’s negotiations and political conditions. The Israeli authorities have linked fuel access to specific conditions such as the release of hostages or the cessation of military operations, and this political linkage has resulted in continued delays in fuel access, even with Gaza’s critical humanitarian situation.
How does the fuel crisis affect daily life in Gaza?
1. Hospitals and Health Services
Hospitals rely heavily on fuel-powered generators to power biomedical devices such as respirators, incubators, and medical imaging devices. As fuel ran out, many hospitals stopped providing their services completely or partially, leading to worsening conditions for the sick and wounded, and higher death rates.
2. Water cuts and sewage plants
Water pumping and sewage treatment plants need fuel-powered electricity. With these stations shut down due to fuel shortages, Gazans face severe shortages of clean drinking water, as well as contamination of the surrounding environment due to the interruption of sewage treatment, increasing the risk of the spread of infectious diseases.
3. Close bakeries and bread scarcity
Most ovens and bakeries run on generators or rely on fuel directly to operate their ovens. With the lack of fuel, a large proportion of them closed their doors, resulting in a shortage of bread, and increased queues in front of bakeries that are still functioning, increasing the suffering of the population, especially the poor and children.
4. Transport and emergency paralysis
Private cars and public transport rely on fuel to move. With its shortage, mobility has been greatly reduced, and emergency response, such as transporting the sick or wounded, has become slow and difficult, increasing the suffering of those in need of urgent medical services.
Possible Solutions to the Fuel Crisis in Gaza
1. Solar power for fuel crisis
Installing solar power systems in homes, hospitals and institutions can significantly reduce the dependence on fuel to power generators. Solar energy is a clean and renewable source, which helps to provide electricity sustainably, especially in light of the continuous power outages in Gaza.
Read more about Solar Energy in Gaza
2. Efficiently use generators and rationalise fuel consumption
The operating times of generators should be regulated to reduce their working life only to the extent necessary, which contributes to the rationalization of fuel consumption. Periodic maintenance of generators also helps to improve their efficiency and reduce waste, which prolongs their run time with less fuel.
