Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel lifts Gaza fuel blockade
Residents were left struggling with severe power cuts after Israel closed borders to Gaza in response to rocket attacks by militants.
- Agencies
- Published: 08:22 January 22, 2008
- Trucks carrying fuel arrive at Nahal Oz crossing in Gaza on Tuesday, after Israel eased a blockade on the territory.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Gaza City: Fuel supplies to Gaza's main power plant resumed on Tuesday after Israel offered a temporary respite from a blockade of the territory.
The largely Jewish country also gave the European Union (EU) indefinite approval to supply the main Gaza power plant with industrial fuel, an EU official said.
"We can restart production 12 hours after the fuel arrives," said Derar Abu Sissi, the plant's general director, referring to the three days' worth of EU-supplied fuel.
Israel said it would also allow in 500,000 litres of diesel for generators, a supply of cooking gas and 50 trucks of food and medicine. Restrictions on petrol for cars remained.
Residents were left struggling with severe power cuts after Israel closed borders to Gaza in response to rocket attacks by militants. On Monday, Israel agreed to lift the blockade.
A Defence Ministry spokesman, however, described the emergency fuel supplies as only temporary. The ministry will then consider if further shipments will be allowed, he said.
The block on the entrance of fuel, food, and medicine has led to long lines at bakeries, left hospitals without heat and gas stations closed.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Israel and Palestine clash at UN
Israel and Palestinian envoys clash in UN debate
-
Anger erupts in Gaza
Anger erupts in Gaza
-
Abbas says talks with Israel must continue
Abbas says talks with Israel must continue
-
Arab world shivers in the midst of cold snap
Arab world shivers in the midst of cold snap
-
Arabs hold crisis talks over Gaza
Arab League officials gather for emergency talks over Gaza
-
Abbas calls for help after Gaza fuel cut
Abbas appeals for help after Gaza fuel cut
-
Israel launches new spy satellite
Israel launches new spy satellite
-
'We are being killed, we are starving'
'We are being killed, we are starving', says Hamas TV announcer
More from Palestinian Territories
More from Region
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
Protest by rights group fails to stop gory Nepal festival
200,000 animals set to be sacrificed
-
Top Korean model found dead in Paris
Kim was an accomplished painter and video filmmaker who had a solo show of her artwork in Seoul
-
Slain journalist Pearl's widow busy with new film
Widow busy producing documentary on lives of inspirational women
