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Gaza hospitals hit by fuel cuts Israel hits Gaza amid fuel fears
(about 5 hours later)
Palestinian medical officials in the Gaza Strip say hospitals there are beginning to run out of vital fuel supplies, putting lives in danger. A Palestinian militant has been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Fuel companies in Gaza have refused to take delivery of supplies from Israel because they say the quantity offered has been drastically reduced. The army says the man, a member of Hamas, was planning to launch mortar shells into Israel - a claim that has been disputed.
Israel cut fuel to Gaza in response to rocket attacks by militants there. Nearly 20 people have now been killed in Gaza by Israel in less than a week, mostly Hamas gunmen. Israel says it is responding to security threats.
The Gaza Strip has been under the control of the Islamist movement Hamas since June. The incident comes as medical officials in Gaza say hospitals are beginning to run out of vital fuel supplies.
'Collective punishment''Collective punishment'
Gaza is heavily dependent on fuel delivered through Israel but supplies have been reduced over the last month. Israel says its actions in Gaza are a response to security threats, including the regular firing of rockets into its territory.
On Sunday, the Fuel Companies Association in Gaza said it was offered just 25% of the normal amount. But it is not just military pressure that Israel is exerting on Gaza. Sanctions have been imposed as well.
Its chairman said accepting such low supplies of fuel would amount to participating in what he called "the collective punishment of Palestinians by Israel". These include the reduction of fuel supplies upon which Gaza depends. On Sunday, the Fuel Companies Association there said it refused a delivery after it was offered just one-quarter of the normal amount it receives.
Officials say 90% of petrol stations in Gaza have shut, but also say medical patients are now at risk because supplies vital for running generators are running out at hospitals. The association's chairman said accepting such low supplies would amount to participating in what he called "collective punishment by Israel".
On Thursday, human-rights groups failed in an attempt to persuade the Israeli Supreme Court to overturn the policy on humanitarian grounds. Officials say most petrol stations in Gaza have shut, and that medical patients are now at risk because fuel supplies at hospitals - vital for running generators - are running out.
There has been good news for some, though: Israel allowed around 250 people to leave Gaza for Egypt.
Most either study or work abroad, but had been trapped since June, following the Hamas takeover of the territory, when Israel imposed strict travel restrictions.
Several thousand people, needing to get out of Gaza, have registered with the Israeli authorities.
They include medical patients, some of whom have died in recent weeks, waiting for treatment only available outside Gaza.