The only power plant in the Gaza Strip stopped generating electricity on Tuesday due to a lack of fuel, a power authority official said.

The electricity supplies coming directly from Israel and Egypt can only cover 35 percent of the people's needs in Gaza, said the official Ahmed Abu Al-Amrin.

Last year, Gaza's ruling Hamas movement started to allow the power plant to run on diesel smuggled from Egypt through underground tunnels, citing the shortage of fuel sent by Israel as a reason.

Abu Al-Amrin blamed Israel for the crisis and urged Egypt "to meet its responsibilities and provide Gaza with fuel needed to re- start the station."

Fuel has been scarce in Egypt and particularly in North Sinai, where Gaza gets its share from.

Smugglers have earlier said Hamas authorities have added extra tax on fuel that enters Gaza via tunnels, making them reluctant to bring in more of the essential commodity for people living in the enclave.

An owner of a gas station said on condition of anonymity that he blamed the power crisis on the tax hike Hamas authorities imposed on fuel supplies.