Power returned to large parts of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip today when Palestinian workers figured out a way to use car batteries to help restart the territory's sole power plant.
Special batteries normally used to help run the plant died earlier this week, preventing it from restarting after Israel allowed limited amounts of fuel into the impoverished coastal enclave.
A director at the plant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the workers devised a solution to the problem by hooking generators up to 170 car batteries.
"Thank God," the director said. "It's working."
He said the Palestinians had requested permission from Israel to import the special batteries used at the plant. But it was unclear if and when the batteries will arrive.
Israel has largely kept border crossings with Gaza closed since a bloody army raid on November 4th, which triggered a surge in rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
Israel allowed European Union-funded fuel into Gaza for the power plant this week. The local plant generates about a third of the electricity consumed by Gazans. The rest comes from Israel, which was continuing supply, and Egypt.
Reuters