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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Israel to ease blockade of Gaza | Israel to ease blockade of Gaza |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Israeli government has said it will allow power plant fuel and medicines into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, easing a controversial blockade. | The Israeli government has said it will allow power plant fuel and medicines into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, easing a controversial blockade. |
| Defence Minister Ehud Barak agreed to ease the curbs for one day hours after the territory's sole power plant shut down, plunging Gaza City into darkness. | Defence Minister Ehud Barak agreed to ease the curbs for one day hours after the territory's sole power plant shut down, plunging Gaza City into darkness. |
| The UN has warned food aid to about 860,000 Gaza people could be halted within days because of the blockade. | The UN has warned food aid to about 860,000 Gaza people could be halted within days because of the blockade. |
| The EU says Israel is "collectively punishing" the Hamas-run territory. | The EU says Israel is "collectively punishing" the Hamas-run territory. |
| 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. |
| Gaza's only power plant produces 27% of the territory's electricity needs according to a recent UN report. | Gaza's only power plant produces 27% of the territory's electricity needs according to a recent UN report. |
| I have made clear that I am against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza Benita Ferrero-Waldner,EU External Relations Commissioner Gaza's rocket threat to IsraelProfile: Gaza Strip | I have made clear that I am against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza Benita Ferrero-Waldner,EU External Relations Commissioner Gaza's rocket threat to IsraelProfile: Gaza Strip |
| Israel earlier reacted angrily to its shutdown, saying it was still providing power to Gaza and putting its current contribution at nearly 70%. | Israel earlier reacted angrily to its shutdown, saying it was still providing power to Gaza and putting its current contribution at nearly 70%. |
| Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that while Israel did not want to provoke a humanitarian crisis, it does want to make people's lives "uncomfortable". | Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that while Israel did not want to provoke a humanitarian crisis, it does want to make people's lives "uncomfortable". |
| Foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel told the BBC the easing of restrictions was for one day only and the government would then review the situation. | Foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel told the BBC the easing of restrictions was for one day only and the government would then review the situation. |
| Bread and rockets | Bread and rockets |
| Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the UN relief agency UNWRA, said his agency was running short of nylon for plastic bags and fuel for vehicles and generators. | |
| Generators are supplying critical power to hospitals | |
| He predicted that food distribution might have to be suspended "on Wednesday or Thursday". | |
| On Monday morning Gaza residents awoke to closed petrol stations and shuttered bakeries unable to bake bread - a staple food in Gaza. | On Monday morning Gaza residents awoke to closed petrol stations and shuttered bakeries unable to bake bread - a staple food in Gaza. |
| 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 insisted the Israeli action was limited to cutting fuel supplies for vehicles. | Mr Olmert insisted the Israeli action was limited to cutting fuel supplies for vehicles. |
| Mr Mekell said the energy crisis in Gaza was a "a fabrication and a stage production by Hamas". | |
| "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. | "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. |
| GAZA'S ELECTRICITY SOURCES Gaza uses 187 megawatts of electricityIsrael supplies 64% of this, and Egypt 9%The remaining 27% is produced by Gaza's power stationIsrael supplies the fuel oil for the Gaza power stationSource: UN report, May 2007 | |
| A report by the UN humanitarian affairs agency Ocha in May 2007 estimated that Israel supplied 64% of Gaza electricity, the local power station - 27%, and Egypt - 9%. | A report by the UN humanitarian affairs agency Ocha in May 2007 estimated that Israel supplied 64% of Gaza electricity, the local power station - 27%, and Egypt - 9%. |
| 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 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 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 concern | Foreign concern |
| Before the Israeli announcement, 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". | Before the Israeli announcement, 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 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. |
| 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 but it is unclear what action it can take other than pushing for humanitarian relief. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In other reaction: | In other reaction: |
Are you in Gaza? Have you been affected by the Israeli blockade? Please send your comments by using the form below: | Are you in Gaza? Have you been affected by the Israeli blockade? Please send your comments by using the form below: |