Israel Accuses Hamas Of Stealing Electricity From Gaza’s Hospitals, Schools

A video purportedly showing Hamas operatives stealing electricity from a grid that services public institutions in the Gaza Strip was posted to Facebook by the head of the Israeli military body (COGAT) responsible for implementing Jerusalem’s civilian policies in the Palestinian territories. Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai slammed the terror group for “continu[ing] to steal from Gazan residents,” which he said was the result of “Hamas not [being] interested in the population and even oppresses it.” The electricity line in question was intended to serve hospitals and schools in the city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, however, Mordechai claimed that Hamas was “pirating” the power and re-directing it for “terror purposes.” While both Israel and Hamas have made clear their current desire to prevent the outbreak of another round of fighting, the ongoing fuel crisis—in which Gazans have about four hours of electricity per day—has led to concern among senior Israeli military officials that the terror group could instigate a conflict to deflect attention away from its internal failings. The issue is a divisive one, with some advocating that Israel has a moral obligation to do more to help Gazans, whereas others place the blame squarely on the shoulders of Hamas, which has governed the Strip for over a decade. In February, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman publicly promoted the latter position, accusing the enclave’s rulers of using their funds for military rather than humanitarian purposes. “In 2017, Hamas spent $260 million to manufacture rockets and dig tunnels, $100 [million] of which came from Iran and the rest from tax collection and other donation[s],” Israel’s top defense official charged. “[Hamas] wouldn’t divert even one shekel toward water, electricity, health or education…. They’re willing to sacrifice all the residents of Gaza.” Complicating matters is the ongoing intra-Palestinian feud, with PA President Mahmoud Abbas last year having gone so far as to request that Israel reduce the amount of power it provides to Gaza in a bid to pressure Hamas to cede control of the territory. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Hamas praised a “brave and heroic” car-ramming terror attack that injured four people in the Israeli city of Acre.