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Palestinian Authority to 'Stop Paying Electricity Costs for Gaza Strip'

Jan 28, 2026 January 28, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

The Palestinian Authority has announced it will stop paying for electricity supplied to the Gaza Strip, escalating tensions with Hamas. Mahmoud Abbas aims to exert financial pressure on Hamas to regain control over Gaza, which has been under Hamas governance since 2007. This situation is critical as it affects the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the political dynamics between Palestinian factions.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The Palestinian Authority's decision to cut electricity payments to Gaza intensifies the ongoing power struggle with Hamas and raises humanitarian concerns.

👥 Key Players

Mahmoud Abbas MENTIONED
President of the Palestinian Authority
"Abbas is a key figure in Palestinian politics, representing the West Bank and seeking to unify Palestinian governance."
Hamas MENTIONED
Governance group in Gaza
"Hamas controls Gaza and is a significant player in Palestinian politics, often in conflict with the Palestinian Authority."
Ismail Radwan MENTIONED
Hamas official
"Radwan's statements reflect Hamas's stance and resistance against the Palestinian Authority's pressures."
Donald Trump MENTIONED
Former President of the United States
"Trump's engagement with Abbas may influence U.S. policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

📰 What Happened

The Palestinian Authority announced it will stop paying for electricity supplied to Gaza, escalating tensions with Hamas. This move is part of Abbas's strategy to exert financial pressure on Hamas to regain influence over Gaza.

  • Hamas has governed Gaza since 2007 after a violent takeover from the Palestinian Authority.
  • Gaza is currently facing severe electricity shortages, receiving only six hours of power a day.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran has historically supported Hamas, and this conflict could affect Iran's influence in Palestinian politics.
🌍 Regional: The tensions between Abbas and Hamas could destabilize the region further, impacting neighboring countries and their relations with Israel.
🌐 International: International stakeholders, including the U.S., may need to address the humanitarian implications of the electricity cut-off and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

📚 Background

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have been in conflict since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to a divided Palestinian governance structure. Efforts to reconcile the two factions have repeatedly failed.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The article cites the Associated Press, which is generally considered a reliable news source, providing neutral reporting on international issues.

On Thursday, April 26, Israel announced that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has informed them that it will stop paying for the electricity that Israel sells to the Gaza Strip. This decision comes amid rising tensions between the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, and the Hamas group that governs Gaza. According to the Associated Press, Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to use financial pressure on Hamas to exert control over Gaza. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 during bloody battles with the Palestinian Authority. Since then, numerous attempts at reconciliation between the rival governments in the West Bank and Gaza have failed. Palestinian Authority officials have not yet commented on this news. Hamas claims it will not yield to these pressures. Ismail Radwan, a Hamas official, condemned Abbas's action, stating, 'Besieging Gaza and depriving it of electricity, water, and other essential services for unreasonable political goals is unacceptable.' Since Hamas took control of the area, the borders of Gaza have been blocked by Israel and Egypt. Gaza has always faced severe electricity shortages, currently receiving only six hours of electricity a day. COGAT, a part of the Israeli armed forces, stated that the Palestinian Authority has informed them that it will immediately stop paying for Gaza's electricity. Abbas's new pressure tactic to strengthen his position in Gaza comes just before his meeting next week with Donald Trump at the White House. Abbas is under pressure to demonstrate that he represents all Palestinians, including the residents of Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, the second-ranking Hamas official in Gaza, told the Associated Press on Wednesday, 'If Mahmoud Abbas wants to force Gaza to surrender or to compel our loyalty by force, he will certainly fail.' He added, 'Gaza is a ticking time bomb, and he cannot apply more pressure on this bomb. If he does, it will explode in his face and in the whole world.' In this context, Fatah and Hamas blamed each other for the failure of the Doha negotiations.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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