Gaza ‘on the brink’ as rockets rain down and Israel’s blockade leaves its 2.3 million residents without electricitry, internet or running water

Gaza faces a humanitarian crisis after Israel’s blockade resulted in its only power plant running out of fuel, authorities warned yesterday.

Israel’s blockade of fuel, food, water and medicine supplies to the Palestinian territory has left 2.3 million Gazans without electricity, internet or running water.

Its only power plant shut down after running out of fuel, leaving schools and hospitals dependent on emergency generators with dwindling fuel supplies. Israeli airstrikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip, wiping out entire neighborhoods in retaliation for Saturday’s attacks by Hamas militants, which killed more than 1,200.

Troops and tanks massed near the Israel-Gaza border ahead of an expected ground offensive as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed an emergency government with key opposition party members.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza warned that the enclave was on the verge of collapse. He said: “Soon all services vital to the survival of the population, including hospitals, will no longer function.” It came as:

• The Palestinian death toll since Saturday rose to more than 1,100, including 326 children, with thousands more injured;

• Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed one of Hamas’ founders, Abd al-Fattah Dukhan, known as ‘Abu Osama’, and two other senior leaders;

• Hamas continued to fire rockets into Israel, hitting a hospital in the southern city of Ashkelon;

• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on a visit to Israel, was forced to run for cover as warning sirens sounded;

• At least 17 British nationals, including children, were confirmed among the dead and missing from Saturday’s attacks;

• British Airways and Virgin Atlantic suspended flights to Tel Aviv after BA diverted a plane moments before landing.

• Israel has admitted its airstrikes have prioritized ‘damage, not precision’ and Palestinian authorities say a hospital, mosque and a university have all been hit.

Medicines and medical supplies, including antiseptic, are ‘on the verge of running out’, according to the Palestinian health ministry, which said women and children made up 60 percent of the wounded.

Dwindling fuel supplies and damaged roads have also jeopardized rescue operations, with teams unable to reach potential survivors trapped under the rubble.

The scale of Israel’s retaliation has caused concern in the international community, including fears expressed by Pope Francis. He called on Hamas to release the hostages taken during Saturday’s attack and said he was praying for those killed, wounded and missing in the attacks.

In his weekly audience in Rome, the Pope said: “Anyone who is attacked has the right to defend himself. But I am very concerned about the total siege under which the Palestinians in Gaza are living, where there are also many innocent victims.’

A prominent mosque in Egypt, Al-Azhar al-Sharif, called for Israel to be investigated for alleged war crimes against civilians in Gaza, including its ‘inhumane siege’.

Israel has defended its air campaign, saying it was right to strike the “nest of terror” after the Hamas attacks.

It came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against spreading the conflict to neighboring countries. He said: ‘I call on all parties, and those who have influence over those parties, to avoid any further escalation and spread.’

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile at an Israeli military position yesterday. The Israeli army bombed the area in southern Lebanon where the attack began. Rockets have also been fired at Israel from Syria.