Gaza's Sole Power Plant Shuts Down, Israel Forms Unity Government

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Facts

• The head of the Gaza Energy Authority announced that the last operational power plant in the enclave stopped working on Wednesday for lack of fuel, leaving only generators to power hospitals and maintain other critical services.¹
• This blackout comes as Israel has adopted a 'total' blockade on the Gaza Strip in retaliation against the Hamas surprise attack last weekend, cutting off the electricity supply and blocking the entry of food and fuel to the densely-populated enclave. The fuel stock to operate generators will reportedly end on Thursday.²
• Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Unity party leader Benny Gantz announced the establishment of an emergency unity government, some four days after the single deadliest day in the country's history.³
• The new war-time Cabinet, which will focus only on issues of war, will consist of Netanyahu, Gantz, and current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for now, as Opposition Leader Yair Lapid didn't immediately respond to the offer to join the Cabinet.⁴
• Israel has had several national unity governments throughout its history, including that of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in 1967, which was formed on the eve of the Six Day War. Gantz and Netanyahu previously worked together in a rotation government in 2020-21.⁵
• The death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has risen to over 2,300 people — 1,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and 1,200 Israelis, according to the nation's military. The US State Dept. confirmed on Wednesday that at least 22 Americans have been killed after the weekend attacks.⁶

Sources: ¹Wall Street Journal, ²Al Jazeera, ³The Times of Israel, ⁴Associated Press, ⁵FT and ⁶Sky News.

Narratives

• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Monitor. Extraordinary violence has been committed on both sides, with a humanitarian catastrophe in the making in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli occupation forces are collectively punishing harmless Palestinian civilians with a complete siege that has cut off food, water, and fuel in addition to continued bombardments targeting residential zones.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Jerusalem Post. While it's obvious that not all Palestinians are pro-terrorism, civilian suffering was foreseen by Hamas when it decided to carry out atrocities against Israel. The so-called moderate Palestinian Authority has exacerbated the violence by calling on its people to kill Israelis. While Israeli forces try to mitigate civilian suffering, they have been left with no option but to repel a violent attack.

Predictions