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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israel allows some fuel into Gaza | Israel allows some fuel into Gaza |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has agreed to partially lift Israel's suspension of fuel supplies to the only power plant in the Gaza Strip. | Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has agreed to partially lift Israel's suspension of fuel supplies to the only power plant in the Gaza Strip. |
| The facility shut on Monday a week after Israel stopped fuel in response to rocket attacks from Hamas. | The facility shut on Monday a week after Israel stopped fuel in response to rocket attacks from Hamas. |
| Israeli officials said Mr Barak had agreed to a limited resumption of fuel supplies to Gaza following an appeal by Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair. | Israeli officials said Mr Barak had agreed to a limited resumption of fuel supplies to Gaza following an appeal by Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair. |
| But they said the border crossing would remain sealed for all other purposes. | But they said the border crossing would remain sealed for all other purposes. |
| Mr Blair, the former British prime minister, was in Jerusalem after attending a meeting of the Quartet in Egypt on Sunday, aimed at resolving the conflict in the Middle East. | Mr Blair, the former British prime minister, was in Jerusalem after attending a meeting of the Quartet in Egypt on Sunday, aimed at resolving the conflict in the Middle East. |
| Last week, Israeli tanks and troops entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire began in June. Six Palestinian militants were killed. | Last week, Israeli tanks and troops entered the Gaza Strip for the first time since an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire began in June. Six Palestinian militants were killed. |
| Blackout | Blackout |
| Meanwhile Hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, which landed without causing casualties. | Meanwhile Hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets into southern Israel, which landed without causing casualties. |
| We were told we would not be allowed in today BBC reporter Aleem Maqbool Gaza shut to fuel and journalists | We were told we would not be allowed in today BBC reporter Aleem Maqbool Gaza shut to fuel and journalists |
| Most of Gaza City was plunged into darkness on Monday night as the electricity plant shut down. | Most of Gaza City was plunged into darkness on Monday night as the electricity plant shut down. |
| The facility depends on supplies of industrial fuel, mainly paid for by foreign donors like the European Union, but transported through Israel. | The facility depends on supplies of industrial fuel, mainly paid for by foreign donors like the European Union, but transported through Israel. |
| For nearly a week the Israeli government has not allowed any goods into Gaza through its crossings, including fuel and food. | For nearly a week the Israeli government has not allowed any goods into Gaza through its crossings, including fuel and food. |
| Israel says the Hamas authorities in Gaza have orchestrated an artificial crisis for political reasons. | Israel says the Hamas authorities in Gaza have orchestrated an artificial crisis for political reasons. |
| 'Real and serious' | 'Real and serious' |
| But the United Nations has described the fuel shortages as "real and serious". | But the United Nations has described the fuel shortages as "real and serious". |
| Israel sealed the border after a wave of Palestinianrocket attacks | Israel sealed the border after a wave of Palestinianrocket attacks |
| Israel's closure of the crossings has also kept journalists from entering Gaza for five days, drawing protests from the Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association. | |
| The Gaza City plant provides about a quarter of the Gaza Strip's electricity and more than half the electricity used by the city itself. | The Gaza City plant provides about a quarter of the Gaza Strip's electricity and more than half the electricity used by the city itself. |
| Most of the rest of the supply to the territory of 1.5 million people comes directly via power lines from Israel. | Most of the rest of the supply to the territory of 1.5 million people comes directly via power lines from Israel. |
| Palestinian engineers had been implementing a system of rolling blackouts to different areas of Gaza City to prevent the lines from Israel becoming overloaded and cutting out. | Palestinian engineers had been implementing a system of rolling blackouts to different areas of Gaza City to prevent the lines from Israel becoming overloaded and cutting out. |