Many Palestinians in Gaza were hopeful that life conditions would improve after a reconciliation agreement between rival groups Hamas, Gaza's rulers, and Fatah, which governs over the West Bank.

　　But electricity in Gaza is still being rationed to four hours per day, three weeks after the deal. It had originally been cut on the orders of the Palestinian Authority's President Mahmoud Abbas to force Hamas to the negotiating table. The Palestinian Authority says the electricity supply will improve but are yet to say when, bringing normal life to a standstill.

　　PHOTO CAPTION

　　A Palestinian vendor uses battery-powered lights as he sells cigarettes during power cut at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. REUTERS

　　Al-Jazeera