Palestinian energy authority chairman Thafer Melhem speculated that the Strip had between 10 and 12 hours of power left, but that seems to have been a generous estimate.

Jalal Ismail of the energy authority in Gaza, who said the power will run out in just over three hours.

"The power plant will stop working completely today at 2pm (12pm UK time), due to the exhaustion of the amount of fuel needed to operate it," he said.

This comes amid a "total siege" enforced by Israel, which seeks to limit power, food and water to the entire Gaza Strip.