A Palestinian official on Wednesday warned that the electricity distribution company in the Gaza Strip will collapse due to lack of equipment and spare parts.

Kan'an Obaid, Hamas deputy director of the Palestinian Power Authority, said "the company is on verge of collapse."

"The company has halted all its projects, including those related to the reconstruction of Gaza Strip, because its warehouses are almost empty," he said.

Obaid said the basic needs of the company, such as cables, transformers and fuses, have run out because Israel prevented their entry to the Gaza Strip.

He urged Egypt to intervene and allow the delivery of the equipment through its borders with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Israel fully sealed off the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after the Islamic Hamas movement routed security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and set up its own regime in the coastal enclave.

The Jewish state allowed in no other than essential food, medicine and fuel.

In December and January, Israel launched a major offensive against Gaza, killing more than 1,300 Palestinians and destroying thousands of buildings.