Palestinians in Gaza struggle as heatwave adds to electricity shortage 

This summer, an unprecedented heat wave has struck the Gaza Strip, increasing the difficulties Palestinians face in the besieged coastal enclave amid electricity shortages.

The residents in the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2.3 million people, only receive electricity for six hours a day, which sparked their resentment and anger towards electrical plant managers and officials from Hamas, an Islamist group ruling Gaza since 2007. 

Jenin Mahmoud, from Dir al-Balah city in the central of Gaza, complained that she rarely could ease the consequences of the heatwave on her four kids. 

Instead, she encourages her kids to head to the sea nearest their house to swim to ease the heatwave of themselves, she said to The New Arab. 

"In Gaza, no one cares about us. Neither government nor officials of the Palestinian parties. We (mothers) must find solutions for all our problems," she said."The situation goes from bad to worse, day by day." 

The same opinion was shared by Mohammed Shaqalih, Jenin's neighbour, who was following his grandchildren while they were swimming in the sea. 

The 59-year-old father told TNA, "My daughter sent her kids to my home to take them to see and even to reduce the negative energy they have since the latest conflict between Israel and the armed Palestinian factions."

Safaa Shehada, a young woman based in Khan Younis, faces a different situation.

She lives in a small house built of iron boards in the eastern part of her city. "We are far away from the sea, and I do not have enough money to send my kids to the sea," the 34-year-old mother of five told TNA. 

She is forced to use primitive methods like putting her children in plastic containers or using water hoses to shower them several times daily.

"Since the beginning of July, specifically in light of high temperatures, we have been suffering from long hours of power cuts," the young woman remarked to TNA. 

What makes matters worse, the woman said, is that the only electricity plant is forcing them to pay more for "no services". 

"Previously, I did not pay fees as my family is poor, and Qatar paid all our duties. However, the situation has changed now. I have paid at least $US 30 monthly for unavailable electricity," the woman said as she showered her kids. 

"We have been suffering a lot every night during the hot weather amid the electricity shortage," she added. "Mostly, my kids and I move from one room to another to look after a cooler place. Our attempts mostly failed as we must suffer greatly during summer."

Locals accused the electricity company and local authorities of investing in the shortage of power crisis to gain more money from people who predominantly suffer from poverty. 

The coastal enclave, home to more than 2.3 million people, needs about 500 megawatts daily. At the same time, the strip receives 120 megawatts from Israel, and the only power station generates 60 megawatts, according to officials in the territory. 

Based on the available power, locals witnessed the electricity connection in the autumn and spring months for eight hours, while there were eight hours of disconnection. Furthermore, the cutting would reach twelve hours during the summer and winter.