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Israel delays Gaza aid supplies UN 'has run out of Gaza food aid'
(about 4 hours later)
Israeli authorities have denied entry to the Gaza Strip of a convoy of basic humanitarian supplies after continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants. The UN has no more food to distribute in the Gaza Strip, the head of relief efforts in the area has warned.
The move came after Israel earlier said it would let 30 truckloads of food and drugs enter Gaza on Thursday. John Ging said handouts for 750,000 Gazans would have to be suspended until Saturday at the earliest, and called Gaza's economic situation "a disaster".
The UN relief agency has warned its distribution centres in Gaza will run out of food within hours unless Israel allows more supplies over the border. Israel earlier denied entry to a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies.
A group of senior European diplomats has also been refused access to Gaza. It has prevented the transfer of all goods into Gaza for nearly a week, blaming continuing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.
Israel has stopped the transfer of all goods into Gaza for nearly a week, citing recent militant attacks. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) distributes emergency aid to about half of Gaza's 1.5m population.
"We have run out [of food aid] this evening," said Mr Ging, Unrwa's senior official in Gaza.
"Unless the crossing points open... we won't be able to get that food into Gaza," he told Reuters news agency.
Access denied
Also on Thursday, Israel refused permission for a group of senior European diplomats to visit the coastal enclave. Gaza shut to fuel and journalistsGuide: Gaza blockade
It has also prevented journalists, including those from the BBC, from entering the territory.It has also prevented journalists, including those from the BBC, from entering the territory.
At the end of today we will be forced to close our food distribution. People in Gaza are becoming increasingly frustrated and desperate Christopher Gunness, Unrwa spokesman Limited supplies of fuel were sent over on Tuesday after Gaza's only power plant ran out of diesel. Limited supplies of fuel were sent over on Tuesday after Gaza's only power plant ran out of diesel.
Militants say the mortar and rocket fire is their response to what they say is Israeli aggression against Gaza.Militants say the mortar and rocket fire is their response to what they say is Israeli aggression against Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, distributes emergency aid to about half of Gaza's 1.5m population. Spokesman Christopher Gunness said its last food stocks would be distributed at the end of Thursday. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev insisted any improvement would be dependent on the Hamas movement which runs the Gaza Strip.
"People in Gaza are becoming increasingly frustrated and desperate," he told the BBC. "Pushing the refugees that Unrwa serves is simply not in the interests of peace."
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev insisted any improvement would be dependent on the Hamas movement which runs the Gaza Strip:
"There's been a combat situation and it's very difficult to have unhindered functioning of the border crossings in a situation where shooting is going on," he said."There's been a combat situation and it's very difficult to have unhindered functioning of the border crossings in a situation where shooting is going on," he said.
Deadly clashDeadly clash
On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed four Palestinian militants from the Hamas movement, which has controlled Gaza since it wrested power from the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority in June 2007.On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed four Palestinian militants from the Hamas movement, which has controlled Gaza since it wrested power from the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority in June 2007.
Gaza shut to fuel and journalistsGuide: Gaza blockade
Witnesses said fighting broke out on the Gaza border after Israeli armoured vehicles crossed into the territory near Khan Younis.Witnesses said fighting broke out on the Gaza border after Israeli armoured vehicles crossed into the territory near Khan Younis.
The army said its soldiers were trying to stop militants plant a bomb near the security fence surrounding the strip.The army said its soldiers were trying to stop militants plant a bomb near the security fence surrounding the strip.
The Gaza power plant provides most of the electricity used in Gaza City; Israel supplies most of the rest of the territory's energy needs, but the system is liable to become overloaded and blackouts are common.The Gaza power plant provides most of the electricity used in Gaza City; Israel supplies most of the rest of the territory's energy needs, but the system is liable to become overloaded and blackouts are common.
Israel occupied Gaza in 1967, but pulled military forces and Jewish settlers out in the summer of 2005.Israel occupied Gaza in 1967, but pulled military forces and Jewish settlers out in the summer of 2005.
Access to the territory, which is home to about 1.5m Palestinians, remains under the control of Israel's military, as does its airspace and territorial waters.Access to the territory, which is home to about 1.5m Palestinians, remains under the control of Israel's military, as does its airspace and territorial waters.
Egypt controls the southern entrance to Gaza at Rafah, and goes along with the policy of isolating the Hamas movement, which Israel and its allies brand a terrorist group.Egypt controls the southern entrance to Gaza at Rafah, and goes along with the policy of isolating the Hamas movement, which Israel and its allies brand a terrorist group.
Israel and Hamas agreed a truce in Gaza five months ago but fierce fighting resumed last week.Israel and Hamas agreed a truce in Gaza five months ago but fierce fighting resumed last week.
Are you in Gaza? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Do you have friends or family in the area? Send us your story:Are you in Gaza? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Do you have friends or family in the area? Send us your story:
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
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