The Gaza Strip will run out of fuel for its electric generators by Sunday, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel

• The Gaza Strip is running low on electricity amid a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
• An Israeli defense official said the Gaza Strip could run out of electricity by Sunday.
• Residents in the area are down to using five hours of electricity per day.

The Gaza Strip will soon go without electricity as the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians continues to escalate, an Israeli defense official told reporters.

Gaza is expected to run out of fuel to power its electric generators by Sunday, the official - speaking anonymously - told The Times of Israel.

The area is down to only five hours of electricity per day since fighting began this week. Gaza had about 16 hours of electricity per day before the violence, The Times reported.

The fuel shortage was caused in part by Israel shutting down the border crossing at Kerem Shalom. Hamas militants also struck electrical lines heading into Gaza during one of their rocket attacks, the Israeli official said.

Violence between Israelis and Palestinians was reignited last week amid religious tensions in Jerusalem and efforts to remove Palestinians from parts of the city. Hamas started firing rockets from Gaza on Monday, and Israel has responded with airstrikes of its own.