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Gaza power plant reopens after Hamas does deal

“Fuel was introduced into the electricity plant today, allowing a second turbine to go into operation” and permitting electricity generation to resume, said Suheil Skeik, head of the Gaza power distribution company.

On Tuesday, the office of Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad said Skeik’s agency had transferred some two million dollars to the bank account of the Palestinian Authority, which is responsible for buying the fuel.

That was confirmed by Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu.

The plant, which provides 25 percent of Gaza’s power, was forced to shut down on August 7 because of the payment dispute between Hamas and the rival Palestinian administration in the West Bank.

The power plant has closed down on several occasions in the past because of fuel shortages.

Israel supplies about 70 percent of Gaza’s power and Egypt provides five percent, with the remainder coming from the power plant, which even when it is running frequently has to ration electricity supply because of fuel shortages.

Hamas and the PA have been fiercely divided since the Islamists violently seized power in Gaza in 2007.