GAZA CITY, GAZA - JULY 20: Palestinian Hamas militants are seen during a military show in the Bani Suheila district on July 20, 2017 in Gaza City, Gaza. For the past ten years Gaza residents have lived with constant power shortages, in recent years these cuts have worsened, with supply of regular power limited to four hours a day. On June 11, 2017 Israel announced a new round of cuts at the request of the Palestinian authorities and the decision was seen as an attempt by President Mahmoud Abbas to pressure Gaza's Hamas leadership. Prior to the new cuts Gaza received 150 megawatts per day, far below it's requirements of 450 megawatts. In April, Gaza's sole power station which supplied 60 megawatts shut down, after running out of fuel, the three lines from Egypt, which provided 27 megawatts are rarely operational, leaving Gaza reliant on the 125 megawatts supplied by Israel's power plant. The new cuts now restrict electricity to three hours a day severely effecting hospital patients with chronic conditions and babies on life support. During blackout hours residents use private generators, solar panels and battery operated light sources to live. June 2017 also marked ten years since Israel began a land, sea and air blockade over Gaza. Under the blockade, movement of people and goods is restricted and exports and imports of raw materials have been banned. The restrictions have virtually cut off access for Gaza's two million residents to the outside world and unemployment rates have skyrocketed forcing many people into poverty and leaving approximately 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Hamasi është gati të lirojë rreth 200 pengje nëse Izraeli përfundon sulmet ajrore në Gaza. Kështu pohon Ministria e Jashtme e Iranit , megjithëse Hamasi nuk e ka pranuar të bëjë zyrtarisht një ofertë të tillë.
Irani shihet si sponsori kryesor i Hamasit në luftën kundër Izraelit. Zëdhënësi i Ministrisë së Jashtme iraniane Nasser Kanani tha se zyrtarët e Hamasit “hanë se janë të gatshëm të marrin masat e nevojshme për të liruar qytetarët dhe civilët e arrestuar nga grupet e rezistencës, por vuri në dukje se këto masa specifike kërkojnë përgatitje.
Hamasi ka thënë se do të shkëmbejë 199 të burgosurit që mban me mijëra palestinezë të mbajtur në burgjet izraelite. Izraeli nga ana tjetër e ka bërë të qartë se nuk do të heqë rrethimin e Gazës derisa të lirohen pengjet.
