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Standoff between Egypt, Hamas Leads to Gaza Energy Crisis
(AP-Washington Post) A dispute between Egypt and Gaza's Hamas government has produced the worst energy crisis in years: Gazans are enduring 18-hour-a-day blackouts, fuel is running low for hospital backup generators, and raw sewage pours into the Mediterranean Sea for lack of treatment pumps. More than a year ago, Hamas decided to use smuggled fuel to run the territory's only power plant instead of paying for more expensive fuel coming from Israel. Several weeks ago, the flow of smuggled Egyptian fuel began to slow: Egypt was itself suffering shortages, and it grew annoyed that Hamas was profiting by imposing tariffs on subsidized fuel meant for Egyptians. In recent days, Hamas has sent dozens of supporters to demonstrate near the Egyptian border to demand that Cairo start sending fuel.