GAZA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israel's restriction policy over the fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip caused a power shortage of 30 percent in the poor enclave, a Palestinian official said Sunday.

    Kan'an Obaid, deputy director of Palestinian Energy Authority, also slammed Israel for its reduction of power supply, saying it "would double the suffering of the (Gazan) residents who are already in hardship."

    In October, Israel reduced the European Union-funded industrial diesel to Gaza's only power station from 2.2 million liter per week to 1.75 million liters per week, halving the power plant's full capacity of 80 megawatts to around 40 megawatts.

    As of Feb. 7, Israel further deducted 5 percent of power supply from a total of 120 megawatts of electricity that Israel sells directly to Gaza in a fresh effort to increase pressure on Gaza residents over the rocket fire from the enclave against Israel.

    The sole power station in Gaza provides electricity to the 600,000 people of Gaza City, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics