Zionist regime block fuel shipment to Gaza

Gaza's only electrical plant shut down Sunday after the Zionist regime blocked the shipment of fuel that powers them, plunging Gaza City into darkness and sending already beleaguered Gazans to stock up on food and batteries in anticipation of long, dark, cold days ahead.

A U.N. agency and human rights groups condemned the Zionist regime.

The Zionist regime sealed all crossings into Gaza last week under the pretext of blocking rocket attacks, cutting off fuel.

Several weeks ago the Zionist regime had reduced the supply.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas' officials shut down the plant and plunged Gaza City into total darkness, Gaza energy authority head Kanan Obeid said.

TV crews and reporters were invited to witness the shutdown just before 8 P.M. (1800 GMT).

Minutes later, Gaza residents started a candlelight march as a protest.

Live Associated Press TV pictures showed dots of light moving slowly up a main street.

The regular fuel shipment from the occupied Palestine did not arrived Sunday because the fuel terminal was closed, and the plant has nearly no reserves, said Rafik Maliha, director of the power plant.

Health Ministry official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain warned that the fuel cutoff would cause a health catastrophe.

"We have the choice to either cut electricity on babies in the maternity ward or heart surgery patients or stop operating rooms," he said.

Four hours after the blackout, Hamas said that five patients died because of the cutoff of electricity in hospitals.

Residents of Gaza City were buying up batteries and candles, as well as basic foods like rice, flour and cooking oil, said grocery store owner Sami Mousa.

Bakeries stopped operating because of the blockade, bakers said, because they had neither power nor flour.