Gaza residents pay hourly fee for portable generators due to power outages

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Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Residents of Gaza City have been relying on a makeshift generator system to access basic necessities like water since Israel’s assault on their neighborhood in October 2025. The generator, which operates for about an hour at a time, is rented by families and individuals who need to fill up storage tanks with water.

The system works as follows: the generator’s owner pours fuel into the machine, starts a timer, and switches it on. Each family gets a few minutes to operate a pump that pushes water up to a storage tank on the roof before the generator moves on to the next house. The process is repeated until all households have access to water.

The cost of renting the generator has increased over time, with prices ranging from 80 to 120 shekels ($26-40) per hour, excluding diesel fuel costs. Mechanics are also in high demand, as many generators have broken down due to a lack of spare parts and expensive repair costs.

For some residents, like Khalil Abu Ouda, the generator is not only essential for accessing water but also a source of income. Abu Ouda operates a machine mounted on a horse-driven cart, connecting electrical cables to water pumps at each house. He works long hours, often 10-12 hours a day, to meet the demand.

Other residents have had to adapt to the lack of basic services due to Israel’s siege. Abeer Ghorab, for example, used to wash her clothes herself but now takes them to a nearby laundry service where they can be washed and dried in less time and with less effort. The service has been particularly helpful during winter months when drying heavy clothes takes longer.

The generator system is just one of the many ways residents have had to cope with the lack of basic services in Gaza City.

Source: Al Jazeera