Gaza's Hamas authorities warned of a health and food crisis caused by a power shortage in the coastal enclave on Thursday, two days after the only power plant here halted generation due to a reduction of fuel supplies coming from Egypt.

Health Minister Basim Naim said hospitals have suspended all electricity-assisted surgeries to reduce consumption of fuel reserves.

The power cut affected 100 newborns in incubators, 60 patients in intensive care units and 404 patients undergoing dialysis, Naim told a news conference in Gaza.

Meanwhile, agriculture ministry warned of food shortage because the lack of fuel forced farmers to turn off the machines used in planting, fishing and farming.

Irrigation water is no longer available as wills have stopped, poultry farms are closed because heating is difficult, and fishermen cannot sail due to the fuel shortage, the ministry said in a statement.

When working at full capacity, the power plant produces about one-third of Gaza's electricity. Northern Gaza Strip gets its power directly from Israel and parts in southern Gaza get their electricity from Egypt.

The power plant used to run on diesel Israel sent to Gaza, but as the shipments were hardly regular, Hamas authorities decided last year to bring in Egyptian diesel through underground smuggling tunnels.

Egypt's North Sinai, which borders Gaza, has long been suffering a lack of fuel. Egypt has reportedly allocated quotas for the governorate's residents based on their daily needs in a bid to curb fuel smuggling to Gaza.

Sources told Xinhua earlier that smugglers were reluctant to bring in more fuel because Hamas increased taxes on all goods that come through the tunnels, including the fuel.