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Add an EventIsraeli closure 'hits Gaza power'
The closure, imposed in the wake of continued rocket fire from Gaza, has brought the delivery of almost all supplies to a halt. But Israel, which supplies 60% of Gaza's power directly, has accused the Palestinians of exaggerating.
The UN says Gaza's 1.5m inhabitants face serious hardship.
Reports from Gaza say people are trying to stock up on candles and batteries, as well as basic foodstuffs.
One grocer in Gaza City, Sami Mousa, told the Associated Press the shopping fever would be worse except that "people don't have the money to buy".
'Running out'
The Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA) said two turbines at the plant had shut early on Sunday and the plant would be closed within 24 hours.
Gaza uses 200 megawatts of electricity annually Israel supplies 60% of this, and Egypt 8.5% The remaining 32.5% is produced by Gaza's power station Israel supplies the fuel oil for the Gaza power station
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The Hamas-appointed health minister said the fuel cuts could cause the health system to collapse[AFP]
Residents in the Gaza Strip are facing the closure of the territory's only power plant as Israel continues a shutdown of its border crossings.
The plant shut down one of its two working turbines on Sunday because of a fuel shortage following the blockade, which Israel says is in response to Palestinian rocket attacks.
UN, EU and Palestinian officials have said the second turbine would cease operation within hours.
"There is no fuel coming in and we have no reserves," Kanaan Abeid, deputy chairman of the Palestinian energy authority in the Gaza Strip, said.
Power outages have become commonplace in the Gaza Strip in recent months after Israel declared the area a "hostile entity" and began restricting fuel supplies.
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