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Israel to ease blockade of Gaza Israel to ease blockade of Gaza
(20 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 Israelis have said they will allow power plant fuel and medicines into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, easing a blockade imposed after rocket attacks.
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.
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 StripI 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%. Egypt has urged Israel to lift its border closure and the crisis is being discussed by the Arab League.
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.
The BBC's Paul Wood reports from Gaza that the Israelis seem to have been stung into easing the blockade by the UN warning of a food shortage.The BBC's Paul Wood reports from Gaza that the Israelis seem to have been stung into easing the blockade by the UN warning of a food shortage.
However, our correspondent adds, Gaza's underlying problem, its exclusion from the peace process under Hamas rule, remains.However, our correspondent adds, Gaza's underlying problem, its exclusion from the peace process under Hamas rule, remains.
Bread and rockets Open for one day
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. Gaza's only power plant produces 27% of the territory's electricity needs according to a recent UN report.
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.
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 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.
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 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
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel told the BBC the easing of restrictions, which were imposed on Friday, was for one day only and the government would then review the situation.
While the Israelis said enough fuel would be allowed in to run a power station, they did not say for how long.
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".
Mr Mekell accused Hamas of "fabricating" the power shortage, stressing that the Israeli grid continued to supply up to 70% of Gaza's needs.
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. Bread and rockets
Israel imposed the blockade in retaliation for attacks on its territory by Gaza-based militants using rockets and mortars.
Generators are supplying critical power to hospitals
Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the UN relief agency UNWRA, said on Monday his agency was running short of nylon for plastic bags and fuel for vehicles and generators.
He predicted that food distribution might have to be suspended "on Wednesday or Thursday".
Petrol stations have been closed in Gaza and some bakeries have been unable to make bread.
Generators are being used to maintain critical power supplies to hospitals.
"There are reserves for two, maximum three, days for the functioning" of hospitals in Gaza," Red Cross spokeswoman Michele Mercier told AFP news agency in Jerusalem.
"If our truck with medicine does not enter Gaza [Tuesday], this can cause a major problem.
Foreign concernForeign 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 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.
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:
    • The UK said it did not support the Israeli blockade and called for all parties to work for the reopening of the crossings. Reports that electricity has been cut because of fuel shortages are particularly alarming, it said
    • The UK said it did not support the Israeli blockade and called for all parties to work for the reopening of the crossings. Reports that electricity has been cut because of fuel shortages are particularly alarming, it said
    • International aid agency Oxfam said Gaza's water and sanitation system was "running on empty" with most pumps due to shut down by Tuesday
    • International aid agency Oxfam said Gaza's water and sanitation system was "running on empty" with most pumps due to shut down by Tuesday
    • 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
    • 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
    • Iran called on foreign ministers of Islamic states to convene on the crisis
    • Iran called on foreign ministers of Islamic states to convene on the crisis
    • Jordan said it was "deeply concerned" about Israeli "military violations" and Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora said Israel was escalating "racial discrimination... under the pretext of confronting Hamas"
    • Jordan said it was "deeply concerned" about Israeli "military violations" and Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora said Israel was escalating "racial discrimination... under the pretext of confronting Hamas"
      • 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:
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