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UN says Gaza facing food shortage UN says Gaza facing food shortage
(40 minutes later)
UN food aid to about 860,000 people in the Gaza Strip will have to be suspended within days if Israel's blockade continues, the UN has warned.UN food aid to about 860,000 people in the Gaza Strip will have to be suspended within days if Israel's blockade continues, the UN has warned.
Spokesman Christopher Gunness said the UN relief agency UNWRA was running short of nylon for plastic bags and fuel for vehicles and generators.Spokesman Christopher Gunness said the UN relief agency UNWRA was running short of nylon for plastic bags and fuel for vehicles and generators.
Egypt has urged Israel to lift its border closure and the crisis is being discussed by the Arab League.Egypt has urged Israel to lift its border closure and the crisis is being discussed by the Arab League.
The EU says Israel is "collectively punishing" the Hamas-run territory.The EU says Israel is "collectively punishing" the Hamas-run territory.
Israel closed Gaza's borders last Thursday in response to rocket attacks by Gaza-based militants.Israel closed Gaza's borders last Thursday in response to rocket attacks by Gaza-based militants.
With fuel supplies hit drastically by the blockade, Gaza's only power plant was shut down on Sunday night.With fuel supplies hit drastically by the blockade, Gaza's only power plant was shut down on Sunday night.
Israel is still providing 60% of Gaza's power needs. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that while Israel does not want to provoke a humanitarian crisis, it does want to make people's lives "uncomfortable".Israel is still providing 60% of Gaza's power needs. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says that while Israel does not want to provoke a humanitarian crisis, it does want to make people's lives "uncomfortable".
Bread and rocketsBread and rockets
On Monday morning residents awoke to closed petrol stations and shuttered bakeries unable to bake bread - a staple food in Gaza.On Monday morning residents awoke to closed petrol stations and shuttered bakeries unable to bake bread - a staple food in Gaza.
I have made clear that I am against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza Benita Ferrero-Waldner,EU external relations commissioner href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7200194.stm">Propaganda battle I have made clear that I am against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza Benita Ferrero-Waldner,EU external relations commissioner href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3702088.stm">Gaza's rocket threat to Israel class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/5122404.stm">Profile: Gaza Strip
Generators are being used to maintain critical power supplies to hospitals but there are fears that supplies of diesel could soon run out.Generators are being used to maintain critical power supplies to hospitals but there are fears that supplies of diesel could soon run out.
Mr Olmert insists the Israeli action is limited to cutting fuel supplies for vehicles.Mr Olmert insists the Israeli action is limited to cutting fuel supplies for vehicles.
"As far as I'm concerned, all the residents of Gaza can walk and have no fuel for their cars, because they have a murderous terrorist regime that doesn't allow people in the south of Israel to live in peace," he said."As far as I'm concerned, all the residents of Gaza can walk and have no fuel for their cars, because they have a murderous terrorist regime that doesn't allow people in the south of Israel to live in peace," he said.
Israeli officials have accused Hamas of closing the territory's only power plant as a ploy to attract international sympathy. Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Ary Mekell told the BBC on Monday that the energy crisis in Gaza was a "a fabrication and a stage production by Hamas".
Generators are supplying critical power to hospitalsGenerators are supplying critical power to hospitals
"There is no shortage of electricity - we provide 70% of the electricity for Gaza through electric cables and this is nothing to do with the fuel supplies," he said.
After decades of occupation, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but it still controls the territory's borders and supplies.After decades of occupation, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, but it still controls the territory's borders and supplies.
Hamas - branded a terrorist organisation by the Israel, the US and the EU - has been in charge of Gaza since June, when it drove out rivals Fatah.Hamas - branded a terrorist organisation by the Israel, the US and the EU - has been in charge of Gaza since June, when it drove out rivals Fatah.
More than 200 rockets and mortars have hit Israel from Gaza since an Israeli operation against militants on Tuesday that left 18 Palestinians dead, the Israeli military says.More than 200 rockets and mortars have hit Israel from Gaza since an Israeli operation against militants on Tuesday that left 18 Palestinians dead, the Israeli military says.
Foreign concernForeign concern
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Mr Olmert to warn him of the humanitarian effects of the blockade, and urged him to "stop the Israeli aggression".Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Mr Olmert to warn him of the humanitarian effects of the blockade, and urged him to "stop the Israeli aggression".
Israel says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks endIsrael says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks end
He also raised the possibility of reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which Israel insists should remain closed.He also raised the possibility of reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which Israel insists should remain closed.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier issued a similar appeal to Israel and Hamas's exiled political leader, Khalid Meshaal, called on Egypt to bring pressure to bear. Arab League officials gathered in Cairo for an emergency meeting but it is unclear what action it can take other than pushing for humanitarian relief.
Arab League officials gathered in Cairo for an emergency meeting and Iran called on foreign ministers of Islamic states to convene on the crisis. The most significant action would be to reopen Gaza's crossing into Egypt but this would probably prove too controversial a step for the Egyptian government, the BBC's Ian Pannell reports.
But the BBC's Ian Pannell reports from Cairo that, other than pushing for humanitarian relief, it remains unclear what measures the League could take. In other reaction:
The most significant action would be to reopen Gaza's crossing into Egypt - but given the sensitivity of this area, it would probably prove too controversial a step for the Egyptian government, our correspondent says.
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EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she was "against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza".
  • EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner spoke out against "this collective punishment of the people of Gaza" and called for an end to the blockade
    • She urged Israeli authorities to restart fuel supplies to the territory, and to reopen border crossings for both humanitarian and commercial supplies.
  • Hamas's exiled political leader, Khalid Meshaal, called on Egypt to bring pressure to bear on Israel
    • She said neither the Israeli blockade nor air strikes on Gaza would prevent rocket attacks, but only a "credible political agreement".
  • Iran called on foreign ministers of Islamic states to convene on the crisis
    • EU-funded fuel for the Gaza power plant is being held at the Nahal Oz crossing, awaiting Israel's decision on resuming supplies, Reuters news agency reports.
  • Jordan said it was "deeply concerned" about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urged an end to Israeli "military violations"
  • Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said Israel was escalating its "racial discrimination and blatant human rights violations against Palestinians, under the pretext of confronting Hamas"
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