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Palestinian children hold candles during a protest against fuel cuts, which led to a blackout in Gaza Sunday. (Reuters)
Last update - 04:37 22/01/2008
Israel agrees to lift aid ban on Gaza Strip for one day
By Yuval Azoulay and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies
Tags: Gaza, Hamas, Israel 

Vowing not to allow a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, but blaming Hamas for the current situation, Israel agreed Monday to allow some fuel and medicine shipments into the besieged territory.

The decision followed growing international pressure at what was described as an imminent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, after Israel stepped up the embargo on the Hamas-controlled territory following massive rocket barrages in recent days, which targeted Israeli communities bordering the Strip.

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We will not allow a humanitarian crisis in Gaza," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a Kadima Knesset faction meeting Monday. "But we have no intention of making their lives easier... as far as I am concerned, every resident of Gaza can walk because they have no gasoline for their vehicles, because they have a murderous regime that doesn't let people in southern Israel live in peace," he warned.

In response to the Qassam rocket attacks, Israel cut fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip, causing power outages.

Monday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to allow the European Union to resume deliveries of industrial fuel to the power plant in Gaza as well as diesel and butane gas used for cooking.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said restrictions would remain in place on gasoline used for cars.

The decision followed warnings by international agencies that Gaza hospitals would run out of drugs and generator fuel in a few days unless Israel allowed goods through border crossings which have been closed since the end of last week.

"We hope Hamas has got the message," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel, citing a recent decline in the number of rocket attacks. "When they want to reduce the number of rockets, they can do it."

Sources at the Defense Ministry said that the decision only allowed minimal fuel supplies and medicine to go through to Gaza.

The same sources reiterated that this is a one-time only easing of the blockade, and should not be interpreted as a change in Israel's policy.

"The message we wanted to send was received in Gaza. On Thursday some 40 rockets were fired against Israel from the Strip, and today... just a few. The military and economic pressure seems to be having an effect and if the shooting of Qassam rockets picks up again, we will not hesitate to reimpose a full blockade," a source in Barak's office said Monday.

Defense establishment officials rejected in recent days claims by the Palestinians that Israel is responsible for a humanitarian crisis in the Strip following the closing of the border crossings. They also rejected accusations that the tightening of the blockade plunged the Gaza Strip into darkness.

In recent days, the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip made emotional appeals to the Arab world, and demanded that Egypt open its border with Gaza to allow in supplies.

While it is unlikely that Egypt will heed Hamas calls to open the Sinai border, not wishing to grant Hamas a victory, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Barak and urged him to ease restrictions.

Hamas organized a number of protests in the Strip Monday, with doctors and nurses at the border crossings. In the West Bank cities of Hebron and Bethlehem, as well as in East Jerusalem, Palestinians held protests to express their solidarity with Gaza Strip residents.

International aid organizations also warned yesterday that they would have to suspend their operations if they had no fuel for their trucks.

"International food aid may have to be suspended by the weekend," said Chris Gunness, spokesman of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza.

The World Food Program, which gives food to some 270,000 Gaza residents, said it would suspend distribution by Thursday because distribution trucks would run out of fuel.

Monday, Gaza City residents lined up outside the few open bakeries.

"I'm going to buy something that my family can keep for only two days because there is no electricity and no refrigerator," said Mohammed Salman. "We cannot keep anything longer than that."


Related articles:
  • PA lawmaker to Abbas: Break off peace talks in light of fuel cuts
  • Gaza power plant shuts down due to fuel blockade
  • Gazans struggle to keep warm facing fuel, electricity shortages
  • IDF allows transfer of vital medicine into the Gaza Strip
  • Palestinians: One killed in IAF strike on northern Gaza Strip
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      1.   why electrical shortage ?? 04:03  |  Jim 21/01/08
      2.   shortages 04:07  |  Shmuelshachor 21/01/08
      3.   so what? 04:08  |  vik 21/01/08
      4.   Once again Haaretz chooses terror over peace 04:31  |  Arik 21/01/08
      5.   electricity in hospitals 04:33  |  Avi Newman 21/01/08
      6.   garbage.anyone can make up stories. they choose to let die or lie 04:55  |  ralph 21/01/08
      7.   Gaza`s power shortage 05:04  |  geoff 21/01/08
      8.   What country on earth would supply its enemy country with....... 05:13  |  Avihu 21/01/08
      9.   Why is Israel always committing crimes against civilians? 05:28  |  POP 21/01/08
      10.   sacrafices 05:29  |  jdl 21/01/08
      11.   OK, there`s an old saying 05:30  |  idf_sergeant 21/01/08
      12.   there was no electricity for millions of years. Was this a crime? 05:32  |  McQueen 21/01/08
      13.   POWER SHORTAGE 05:46  |  BLUE-DI-DO 21/01/08
      14.   gaza`s shortages 05:49  |  ljf-canada 21/01/08
      15.   Israel Should Look After Jews First! 05:56  |  Norman F Birnberg 21/01/08
      16.   IT`S THE WAR STUPID 05:57  |  marcos 21/01/08
      17.   Do you really want to be part of this? 06:02  |  Pal 21/01/08
      18.   Stop Rockets, Get Electicity. 06:18  |  ATLAS 21/01/08
      19.   Now thats some really nice Irony, the bastard is injured and 06:37  |  Elizabeth 21/01/08
      20.   No oil in Gaza..No oil in Europe and US 06:38  |  Avram 21/01/08
      21.   Stop the left: No one here as care about Arabs. 06:49  |  Alex 21/01/08
      22.   Gaza shortage 06:52  |  Harold 21/01/08
      23.   where did they direct other 75% of electrical power? answer that 07:06  |  ralph 21/01/08
      24.   There is no excuse for Collective Punishment 07:16  |  Kris 21/01/08
      25.   Hamas is a joke, Kind of ironic 07:22  |  Shepherd 21/01/08
      26.   # 5 its an occupastion stupid 07:23  |  Kris 21/01/08
      27.   Mashaal You Fool, You Should Be Fired As A Failed Leader! 07:37  |  Lavi 21/01/08
      28.   All the world is a stage 07:39  |  Ilan 21/01/08
      29.   Criminal & Cruel 07:41  |  Michael 21/01/08
      30.   Idiotic Israeli move to be reversed soon 07:42  |  Natallie Durson 21/01/08
      31.   Pal #6 - Are you serious? 07:58  |  Moises 21/01/08
      32.   to PAL #6 08:08  |  Dan 21/01/08
      33.   Power palnt shut down 08:12  |  muhanad 21/01/08
      34.   ISRAEL NEEDS TO FOLLOW UP WITH HASBARA 08:29  |  Proud Israeli 21/01/08
      35.   to Elizabeth #8 08:29  |  Steve Beikirch 21/01/08
      36.   This is War - Keep up the Military Targeting - Don`t Stop 08:36  |  J 21/01/08
      37.   The Latest rom Jerusalem Souces NO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 08:37  |  Natasha 21/01/08
      38.   Lowly beggars 08:38  |  Oddvark 21/01/08
      39.   Pal, your a moron a your comment was imbelic 08:42  |  Elizabeth 21/01/08
      40.   Children...Not Again 08:47  |  ori 21/01/08
      41.   To ralph # 1 - Anyone can make up stories..... 08:49  |  Dagma 21/01/08
      42.   #6: Grow up... 08:51  |  Ori 21/01/08
      43.   Next World Oil Crisis 08:56  |  Jerusalem Jew 21/01/08
      44.   To Mderators - Why do Talkback Messages end so abruptly 08:58  |  Dagma 21/01/08
      45.   Two problems with #2 BLUE DO-DO 09:03  |  Pablo B 21/01/08
      46.   #7 09:04  |  Yuri 21/01/08
      47.   2 questions 09:26  |  Moshe ben Yitzhak 21/01/08
      48.   Egypt supplies 17% elec why wasn`t it streamed to hospital? 09:37  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 21/01/08
      49.   "Struck A Wagon" 09:41  |  Clickfool 21/01/08
      50.   End the vile siege,you rotters! Gaza has entered its third full 09:46  |  lakshmi 21/01/08
      51.   Natasha on reality - 09:49 HT 09:49  |  BBSNews 21/01/08
      52.   Yuri 09:54  |  ATLAS 21/01/08
      53.   #Proud Israeli. And what must Israel do? 09:57  |  Maureen Ann 21/01/08
      54.   No Compassion to Unwanted Arab Terror , Go To Arabs Capitals , 09:58  |  Joseph E . 21/01/08
      55.   Another faked, PhotoShopped Reuters photo? Look at the lighting! 10:09  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/01/08
      56.   #14kris suffers from flashes of light syndrome 10:09  |  v hardman 21/01/08
      57.   Well spotted Dr Brnd: we`re being manipulated 10:30  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 21/01/08
      58.   Hamas stealing Gaza hospitals` fuel READ ALL ABOUT IT 10:32  |  Gil 21/01/08
      59.   Dr. L. Brnd Do you really think they would stoop so low 10:43  |  Gil 21/01/08
      60.   Why doesn`t Egypt send fuel? Why pressure Israel? 10:45  |  d.dor 21/01/08
      61.   #49 BBSNews 10:46  |  Your Self-Promotion 21/01/08
      62.   EGYPT MUST STOP GAS SUPPLIES TO THE ZIONISTS 10:51  |  TrippleJump 21/01/08
      63.   Free Advertising 10:53  |  BBSNews 21/01/08
      64.   #50 - a serious question 10:54  |  redmike 21/01/08
      65.   This is the RESULT of the Arab puppets rushing to Annapolis 10:56  |  Palestinians 21/01/08
      66.   YOUR RIGHT ON ALL COUNTS DR.L.BRND, WHAT A SET UP!! 11:01  |  Elizabeth 21/01/08
      67.   Meshal: We`re loosing the War. Quick,someone impose a cease fire 11:15  |  Joseph E . 21/01/08
      68.   49Clickfool,true,israel would love to attack Iran;but there is 11:21  |  lakshmi 21/01/08
      69.   # 65 Pal " Fatah with Arabs at Annapolis" and Hamas 11:22  |  Joseph E . 21/01/08