By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israel will start limiting its power supply to the Gaza Strip from Thursday night, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website on Thursday.
Security sources were quoted as saying that the 5 percent cutoff for each of the 10 lines supplying electricity to Gaza is now pending the approval of the prime minister and defense minister.
The reduction of the power supply, based on a plan approved Wednesday by Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, will join the additional sanctions related to the reduction in the supply of diesel, petrol and goods, according to the sources.
Israel and Egypt supply some 70 percent of the energy needed for the Palestinians’ electricity consumption, while the rest is produced in local power stations.
Israeli defense establishment has earlier instructed the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) to gradually limit the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip, starting on Thursday night with 5percent, or 0.5 megawatt cutoff from each of the lines supplying electricity to the strip.
Israeli political echelon decided about two months ago to cut the fuel and electricity supply to the Gaza Strip.
About two weeks ago, Israel stopped supplying diesel to the strip, but this caused a blackout in Gaza after the local power station ceased its operations, leading to international pressure on Israel, which later decided to resume the diesel supply.