Al-Arabiya, Saudi Arabia, Originally Posted in Arabic on November 22
Palestinian sources revealed this week that some 30% of the electricity provided to the Gaza Strip is consumed by Hamas, mainly to support its underground tunnel digging activity.
Hamas relies on the tunnels not only to carry out attacks, but also as a shelter for its operatives during wartime. Recently, it began installing secure telephone lines within the tunnels, allowing for secure communication at a time of emergency.
Citizens of the Gaza Strip have been long suffering from an unsteady supply of electricity in recent years. The situation took a turn for the worse after Israel targeted Gaza’s only power plant in 2006. The facility was later reconstructed by the European Union.
Still, recent weeks have seen several blackouts in the Strip. According to sources in Gaza, Hamas’ military bases and training sites seem to be unaffected by the shortage, as they remain lit even when other areas loose power. This may very well be part of the organization’s effort to enhance its tunnel infrastructure and turn it into one single interconnected underground city in the near future. – Al-Arabiya Staff