Pro-Houthi MP Accuses Militias of Torturing Hodeidah Residents

UN vehicles on their way to Saleef port are seen at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 11, 2019. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad
UN vehicles on their way to Saleef port are seen at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 11, 2019. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad
TT
20

Pro-Houthi MP Accuses Militias of Torturing Hodeidah Residents

UN vehicles on their way to Saleef port are seen at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 11, 2019. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad
UN vehicles on their way to Saleef port are seen at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen May 11, 2019. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad

A pro-Houthi MP attacked the Iran-backed militias’ leadership during a meeting for deputies in Sanaa.

He accused it of intentionally torturing Hodeidah residents by not providing them with electricity to overcome summer season’s heat despite sufficient amount of fund available for that.

MP Abdu Bishr, who is known for opposing the group’s policies, said that its MPs have announced adding the prices of oil derivatives sold in areas that fall under the militias’ control to implement electricity project for Hodeidah’s residents, but these funds “seem to have lost their way to an unknown destination.”

Bishr called on Sanaa deputies, who are subject to the group, to take firm stances in order to know the fate of these funds, which are collected for Hodeidah’s electricity. He pointed out that these funds are being looted and seized by Houthi leaders.

Bishr was a minister in the coup government before he was ousted.

Houthis have attacked his home in Sanaa a few days ago and arrested two of his bodyguards.

Hodeidah residents told Asharq Al-Awsat that life is no longer bearable in the city due to summer heat and the lack of electricity. They said only Houthi leaders and their followers have access to electricity, which is being supplied for them for free.

Residents stressed that the militias have imposed huge sums on private generator owners, who sell electricity for people.

This has caused a hike in prices, preventing a number of people from access to their basic needs.



Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
TT
20

Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed

The Palestinian Authority said internet and fixed-line communication services were down in Gaza on Thursday following an attack on the territory's last fibre optic cable it blamed on Israel.

"All internet and fixed-line communication services in the Gaza Strip have been cut following the targeting of the last remaining main fibre optic line in Gaza," the PA's telecommunications ministry said in a statement, accusing Israel of attempting to cut Gaza off from the world, AFP reported.

"The southern and central Gaza Strip have now joined Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip in experiencing complete isolation for the second consecutive day," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that its maintenance and repair teams had been unable to safely access the sites where damage occurred to the fibre optic cable.

"The Israeli occupation continues to prevent technical teams from repairing the cables that were cut yesterday", it said, adding that Israeli authorities had prevented repairs to other telecommunication lines in Gaza "for weeks and months".

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the communication lines were "directly targeted by occupation forces".

It said the internet outage was hindering its emergency services by impeding communication with first responder teams in the field.

"The emergency operations room is also struggling to coordinate with other organisations to respond to humanitarian cases."

Maysa Monayer, spokeswoman for the Palestinian communication ministry, told AFP that "mobile calls are still available with very limited capacity" in Gaza for the time being.

Now in its 21st month, the war in Gaza has caused massive damage to infrastructure across the Palestinian territory, including water mains, power lines and roads.