From the trial of trucks entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing – Agence France-Presse
Middle East
International pressure is being put on Tel Aviv to provide relief to civilians stranded in the Gaza Strip
After significant international pressure on Israel to allow aid and fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip, Israel has informed the United States of a plan to deliver fuel to southern Gaza under international monitoring in case more hospitals are put out of action, they said two Israeli officials told Axios.
Humanitarian organizations have been calling for weeks to allow fuel to enter the Strip, reporting hospitals that have closed their doors or are at risk due to severe fuel shortages.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, Israel imposed a “total blockade” on Gaza, cutting electricity and preventing the passage of fuel, food and medical supplies into the Strip.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
In recent weeks, Israel has allowed a limited number of trucks carrying supplies to Gaza from Egypt, but has so far refused to allow fuel into the Strip, due to fears that Hamas could seize the fuel.
IDF Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevy said Thursday that Israel would transport fuel to monitored hospitals when needed.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday, after his meeting with Secretary of State Tony Blinken, that Israel will not allow any fuel to enter Gaza.
However, sources say discussions are underway to find a way to supply fuel to Gaza if Israel deems it necessary.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
Israeli officials, in collaboration with experts from international humanitarian organizations, calculated the amount of fuel needed to operate hospitals and other vital facilities for a short and limited period of time.
Under the plan submitted to the United States, which requires approval from the Israeli Defense Cabinet, fuel tankers from Egypt will enter the Gaza Strip with a certain amount of fuel sufficient to operate hospitals and other humanitarian facilities for a given period of time. Each fuel tanker will be accompanied by a UN team who will monitor it closely and ensure that the fuel is delivered to hospitals for its intended purpose.
Israeli officials said that when fuel runs out again, the operation will take place again for another short, limited period of time.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
Israeli officials say there is currently enough fuel in Gaza to run generators at hospitals and other humanitarian facilities.
The United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) said on Friday, citing the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, that 16 hospitals and 51 primary health care centers were “out of service due to conflict or shortages of fuel”.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
Officials said Hamas supplies fuel to hospitals in northern Gaza from its supplies, which Israel estimates at half a million liters. Israeli officials say hospitals in southern Gaza receive fuel from UNRWA. US special envoy David Satterfield told reporters in Amman on Saturday that there is an agreed mechanism to get fuel to Gaza when it runs out, but he provided no further details.