The Middle East envoy for the United Nations, Nikolay Mladenov, says the power struggle between the Fatah and Hamas movements in Palestine has worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and another conflict in the region is possible.
“In Gaza, we are walking into another crisis with our eyes wide open. I am today warning the Security Council that unless urgent measures are taken to deescalate, the crisis risks spiraling out of control, with devastating consequences for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” he said.
In 2007, Hamas took complete control of Gaza, beating down Fatah forces in bloody street battles and forcing President Mahmoud Abbas to relocate to the West Bank. A series of reconciliation attempts have failed to resolve the divisions between the two parties.
In April, the Palestinian Authority (PA) cut the salary allowances of nearly 60,000 public sector employees in Gaza. The action coincided with the closure of the strip's only power plant, due to a dispute between the PA and Hamas over fuel tax.
Escalating tensions, the PA told Israel it would no longer pay for the electricity it generates for Gaza, a move that could potentially lead to a complete power outage in the strip. Its two million residents already endure blackouts of more than 20 hours a day.
The power crisis has caused havoc in Gaza. According to the United Nations, specialized treatment plants have been forced to shut down, resulting in 100,000 cubic meters of raw sewage being pumped into the Mediterranean Sea every day, the equivalent of water in 40 Olympic-size swimming pools.
