Region | Palestinian Territories
'We are being killed, we are starving'
The largest Palestinian city awoke on Monday to shuttered bakeries and gas stations, prompting warnings of a humanitarian crisis, after Israel sealed Gaza and cut off fuel supplies in response to a spike in Palestinian rocket fire.
- AP
- Published: 00:54 January 22, 2008
- Palestinians protest in front of the gate of the Rafah crossing calling on Egypt to open their border with the Gaza Strip.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Gaza City: The largest Palestinian city awoke on Monday to shuttered bakeries and gas stations, prompting warnings of a humanitarian crisis, after Israel sealed Gaza and cut off fuel supplies in response to a spike in Palestinian rocket fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Gaza's residents can "walk, without gas for their cars," suggesting that he won't lift the chokehold any time soon, despite warnings by international organisations that they may suspend food distribution by the week's end.
Israel and Gaza's Hamas government were locked in a public relations battle over the depth of the hardship.
An angry Hamas TV announcer shouted that "we are being killed, we are starving!" and Palestinian leaders issued emotional pleas for national unity, while Israel accused Hamas of fabricating a crisis to gain world sympathy.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called Israel's defence minister to press for easing the blockade on Gaza, Israeli and Egyptian officials said.
In an interview on Al Arabiyah TV, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said, "There are indications that the crisis is about to be solved this evening."
Gaza's power plant shut down late Sunday, plunging Gaza City into darkness, and gas stations and many bakeries stopped operating. Health officials warned that hospital generators were running out of fuel.
"We have the choice to either cut electricity on babies in the maternity ward or heart surgery patients or stop operating rooms," said Health Ministry official Moaiya Hassanain.
International food aid may be suspended by the week's end if the closures continue, a UN aid agency spokesman said yesterday, because of a shortage of fuel and plastic bags used to pack food. Most Gaza residents rely on food aid.
Olmert stays firm
"We are going to have to suspend operations on Thursday or Friday," said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which distributes food aid to 860,000 Palestinian refugees in Gaza.
The World Food Programme, which gives food to another 270,000 Gaza residents, said it would also have to suspend distribution by Thursday.
"We are all in a very vulnerable situation because of limited supplies," said John Ging, head of UNRWA.
Olmert said he won't allow a humanitarian crisis to unfold, but also warned that Gaza's 1.5 million residents won't be able to live a "pleasant and comfortable life" as long as Israel comes under rocket attack from Gaza.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Abbas calls for help after Gaza fuel cut
Abbas appeals for help after Gaza fuel cut
-
Arabs hold crisis talks over Gaza
Arab League officials gather for emergency talks over Gaza
-
Israel continues to pound Gaza
More Hamas fighters killed as Israel continues to pound Gaza
-
Gaza power plant begins shutting down
Gaza power plant begins shutting down
-
Arab ties offer for Israel treaty
Saudis offer Arab ties for Israel peace treaty
More from Palestinian Territories
More from Region
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
-
Focus on best methods of crime investigation
International conference to also focus on anti-corruption measures
-
Muslims happy to live in the US
Warm welcome awaits visitors of any nationality despite political differences
