Palestinians Block Fuel, Create Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza

By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem ----- April 24, 2008 ....... The following was communicated by the Israel Coordination and Liaison Administration, at the Erez security checkpoint to the Israel News Agency.

Israel Col. Nir Press, head of the Israel Coordination and Liaison Administration to the Gaza Strip, addressed the issue of UNRWA fuel shortages today (Thursday, 24 April 2008) stating that: “After receiving the update and application from UNRWA regarding depletion of fuel required by the organization, Israel yesterday coordinated with UNRWA, the Palestinian fuel organization and the
Palestinian fuel administration, the transfer of fuel required by UNRWA.

The said transfer arrangement consisted of 100,000 liters of diesel fuel and an additional 20,000 liters gasoline and was to be drawn from the fuel deposits located in the Palestinian fuel depot at Nahal Oz. The deposits accumulated at the Palestinian fuel depot amount to one million liters. The Palestinians have not withdrawn any fuel during the past month, and are not supplying the fuel necessary for humanitarian and civilian requirements.

In this manner, the Palestinians, led by the Hamas terror organization, are creating shortages, misery and disaster”.

In accordance with the transfer arrangement, the first fuel tanker arrived from the Gaza Strip this afternoon to withdraw fuel for UNRWA. However, tens of thousands of Palestinians blocked one of the main intersections leading to the fuel depot, preventing the entrance of the tanker to the depot and
thus preventing the supply of fuel.

It should be noted that Israel is not involved or responsible for occurrences in the Gaza Strip, for vehicular traffic on the highways, or for entrance to the organization’s depot.

Israel has supplied UNRWA with its fuel it requires for current operations during the last few months, and since yesterday has been attempting to assist the organization with the Palestinians, and enable it to withdraw its fuel requirements, as is done with regard to diesel fuel supplied to the power station. Yesterday approximately one million liters were supplied to the power station from Israel, the entire quantity of which reached its destination.

It is the hope of the Israel government that tomorrow the Palestinians will allow the tankers to reach the fuel depot, and supply the UN organizations serving the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing once again Hamas attempts to create a crisis situation in the Gaza Strip, on the back of the civilian population, by attacking the Nahal Oz fuel terminal and the Kerem Shalom crossing, and by preventing supply of fuel for humanitarian purposes while attempting to
pressurize Israel.

Col. Press called on the Palestinians to draw fuel from the Palestinian depot at Nahal Oz, and to use it for various humanitarian and civilian requirements.