以色列批准加沙地带能源管道项目

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have recently reached an agreement, which will move forward plans to build a natural gas pipeline from Israel into the Gaza Strip, reports The Times of Israel.The Times of Israel stated that a source told the news agency that Palestinian officials were informed that Israeli authorities had given the project its approval.

This deal and pipeline project marks an attempt to enhance energy and water supplies to the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave, since, at present Gaza faces a severe energy shortage. Local authorities are currently using an 8 hr on, 8 hr off electricity rationing system, which relies entirely on the only power plant in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, commented: “We want to help the population of Gaza and the first step is to improve the supply of energy and water,including laying a gas pipeline” during a recent visit to the Netherlands.