AMN / WEB DESK
The first consignment of fuel entered the Gaza Strip after Israel’s war cabinet agreed to allow two fuel trucks a day to enter the territory amidst US pressure. The delivery arrived from Egypt late Friday as United Nations officials warned of a dire situation for 2.4 million Palestinians and pleaded for a ceasefire. A Palestinian telecom firm says phone and internet services were returning to the region after a 24-hour blackout due to a lack of fuel.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its operations in Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza. Israel has defended its Al-Shifa operation, with the military saying it found rifles, ammunition, explosives, and the entrance to a tunnel shaft at the hospital complex. Its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, alleged hostages may even have been held at the medical facility. The Hamas, however, denied the allegations and claimed it to be a false narrative.
The Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said it has partially restored phone and internet services in Gaza after fuel shipments were delivered to the region.
A first shipment of around 17,000 liters of fuel passed through the Rafah crossing from Egypt late Friday, a Palestinian border official told a news agency.
Paltel said it had begun restoring its network after receiving fuel to restart the generators that power its equipment.
Under growing pressure from the United States, Israel said Friday that it would allow small shipments of fuel into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian purposes, as United Nations aid convoys remained suspended for a third consecutive day.
“Yesterday evening, the War Cabinet responded to a special request by the United States to provide two fuel tankers per day for the sewage purifying facilities in the Gaza Strip that are facing collapse without electricity and the ability to manage the water and sewage systems that UNRWA manages,” Israeli National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi told reporters Friday in Tel Aviv. The UNRWA is the United Nations agency that assists Palestinians.
According to VOA in Washington, a U.S. State Department official confirmed that Israel has agreed to allow in 140,000 liters (36,984 gallons) of fuel every 48 hours for southern Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt – 120,000 liters (31,700 gallons) for UNRWA aid trucks, desalination plants, sewage facilities and hospitals, and 20,000 liters (5,283 gallons) for telecommunications generators. The first delivery is expected Saturday.
Latest Developments:
- Palestinian telecommunications company partially restores phone and internet services in Gaza after fuel shipments arrive
- Under U.S. pressure, Israel says it will allow a limited amount of fuel into Gaza for humanitarian purposes.
- Gaza is facing the “immediate possibility of starvation,” according to the World Food Program’s executive director.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has not been successful in minimizing civilian casualties.
- Israel warns Palestinians to leave four towns in southern Gaza, possibly presaging new attacks in the area.
- Israeli forces continue operations around Shifa Hospital.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly condemned the civilian casualties in the ongoing violence in Gaza Strip. Delivering the inaugural speech at the second virtual Voice of Global South Summit, Mr. Modi reiterated his condemnation of the 7th of October attack on Israel by Hamas and said that the Global South should speak in one voice on critical matters. He said that developments in West Asia were giving birth to new challenges and urged for a restrained response along with dialogue and diplomacy.