Algeria Promises Gas Supply to Gaza, Hamas Official Says

A top official source at the Palestinian Hamas said Algeria has promised to provide natural gas to Gaza, and ultimately help the isolated strip to overcome energy crisis amid unfair blockade imposed by Israel.

Yet, the source said the project cannot be achieved currently, as Egypt and Israel are already controlling the fuel supplies to Gaza Strip, in accordance with bilateral agreements sealed in the era of the ousted Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. 

Meanwhile, Hamas’s Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said Tuesday, that Qatar is ready to supply Gaza Strip with natural gas for free. “We are due to discuss the issue with our brothers in Egypt, and we are grateful for their cooperation to solve the crisis in Gaza,” Mr Haniya said, adding that the different parties are discussing the way to carry the gas to Gaza.

But, Head of Energy Authority in Gaza, Kanaan Abid, accused Egypt’s Intelligence of hampering an ultimate agreement between the Gaza Energy Authority and the Egyptian Energy Ministry to supply Gaza with gas, saying such a hamper tends to force Palestinians to bring gas via Israel controlled crossings.

Mr Abid further mentioned that talks are still underway with the People’s Assembly of Egypt, controlled by Muslim Brotherhoods, to solve the crisis, and empower Gaza to import natural gas and fuel from different Arab and Islamic nations.