Qatar to fund gas and electricity to Gaza power plant

The Qatari government said today they will pay for energy production at Gaza’s only power plant. 

Per the agreement, the Qatar Committee for Reconstruction of Gaza established a savings account to cover the costs of supplying gas and electricity in the strip. Committee chairman Mohammed Al Emadi signed the deal with the Gaza Electricity Generation Company and the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, according to statement from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Emadi went to Gaza for the signing and met with Walid Salman and Kanaan Obaid from the Gaza Electricity Generation Company and the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, respectively, per the statement. 

The state of Qatar is a major financial supporter of Gaza, which is internally governed by Hamas but subject to an Israeli-Egyptian blockade. Last November, Qatar said they would resume cash payments to Gazans living in poverty. 

Gaza has major electricity problems, and there are typically hours-long power cuts every day. 

The Qatari statement omitted some details about the agreement, such as how long the account will fund energy in Gaza and at what cost. 

There was no immediate comment from Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.