Defying the odds, Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to move forward together in the construction of a natural gas pipeline in the Gaza Strip to provide power and ultimately water resources for the beleaguered enclave.

Gaza faces a severe energy crisis, with authorities using an 8-hour on, 8-hour off electricity rationing system. The sole power plant in Gaza routinely operates at half capacity.

Joined by the Mid East Quartet and chaired by a Dutch - supported task force, the undertaking will first consider a feasibility study on the route, costs and funding from donor states, most of which will come from the European Union. To this end a meeting of prospective donor countries will take place later this month in New York.

The organization said it launched and is chairing the Gas for Gaza (dubbed G4G by the Quartet) Task Force to “provide all relevant stakeholders with information coming out of the feasibility study as it progresses and to provide a platform for all stakeholders to coordinate and work together until the project is implemented.”