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| Israel eases restrictions on Gaza | Israel eases restrictions on Gaza |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israel has allowed a shipment of fuel into Gaza, easing its blockade of the territory following widespread international criticism. | Israel has allowed a shipment of fuel into Gaza, easing its blockade of the territory following widespread international criticism. |
| Lorries carrying domestic cooking gas and fuel for the Strip's sole power plant entered the Nahal Oz border crossing, east of Gaza City. | Lorries carrying domestic cooking gas and fuel for the Strip's sole power plant entered the Nahal Oz border crossing, east of Gaza City. |
| Israel shut border crossings last Thursday, after a spate of rocket attacks from the Hamas-run territory. | Israel shut border crossings last Thursday, after a spate of rocket attacks from the Hamas-run territory. |
| But it faced accusations of imposing illegal "collective punishment". | But it faced accusations of imposing illegal "collective punishment". |
| Late on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak agreed to ease the curbs for one day, hours after Gaza's sole power plant shut down, plunging Gaza City into darkness. | Late on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak agreed to ease the curbs for one day, hours after Gaza's sole power plant shut down, plunging Gaza City into darkness. |
| Fuel and medicine | Fuel and medicine |
| Israel will allow through 2.2m litres of industrial diesel, 500,000 litres of diesel for generators and a supply of cooking gas across the border, said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel. | Israel will allow through 2.2m litres of industrial diesel, 500,000 litres of diesel for generators and a supply of cooking gas across the border, said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Arye Mekel. |
| Supplying Gaza with more fuel does not mean solving the crisis in Gaza. The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege Sami Abu ZuhriHamas Gaza's rocket threat to IsraelWhat now for Hamas?Anger in regional press | Supplying Gaza with more fuel does not mean solving the crisis in Gaza. The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege Sami Abu ZuhriHamas Gaza's rocket threat to IsraelWhat now for Hamas?Anger in regional press |
| A shipment of medicine is also expected to cross later. | A shipment of medicine is also expected to cross later. |
| The decision follows a warning from the UN that food aid to about 860,000 Gaza people could be halted within days because of the blockade. | The decision follows a warning from the UN that food aid to about 860,000 Gaza people could be halted within days because of the blockade. |
| Following warnings from the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that life would not be "pleasant or comfortable" for Gazans as long as rocket attacks continued, UN officials joined the EU in accusing Israel of "collective punishment" - illegal under international law. | Following warnings from the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that life would not be "pleasant or comfortable" for Gazans as long as rocket attacks continued, UN officials joined the EU in accusing Israel of "collective punishment" - illegal under international law. |
| The officials have expressed relief that fuel deliveries have restarted, allowing them to provide the food aid on which some 80% of the Gazan population rely. | The officials have expressed relief that fuel deliveries have restarted, allowing them to provide the food aid on which some 80% of the Gazan population rely. |
| Crisis 'delayed' | Crisis 'delayed' |
| But others say the decision to relax the blockade for only a day will only put off a crisis. | But others say the decision to relax the blockade for only a day will only put off a crisis. |
| "The fuel we will get today is going to be only enough for three days so I'm not saying the situation is going to be better," Rana Elhindi, an aid worker for Save the Children, told the BBC. | "The fuel we will get today is going to be only enough for three days so I'm not saying the situation is going to be better," Rana Elhindi, an aid worker for Save the Children, told the BBC. |
| Hamas leaves a militaristic, yet diplomatic nation no choice G Uzelac, New York CityBBC News website reader Your commentsProfile: Gaza Strip | Hamas leaves a militaristic, yet diplomatic nation no choice G Uzelac, New York CityBBC News website reader Your commentsProfile: Gaza Strip |
| "If it's going to be like that then we're really facing a real disaster in the Gaza strip." | "If it's going to be like that then we're really facing a real disaster in the Gaza strip." |
| A spokesman for Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the crisis would remain despite the easing of border restrictions. | A spokesman for Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the crisis would remain despite the easing of border restrictions. |
| "The Israeli announcement of supplying Gaza with more fuel does not mean solving the crisis in Gaza," he said. | "The Israeli announcement of supplying Gaza with more fuel does not mean solving the crisis in Gaza," he said. |
| "The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege on the Gaza Strip." | "The real crisis of our Palestinian people is the continuing siege on the Gaza Strip." |
| Mr Zuhri called on neighbouring countries to demonstrate in support of Gaza, and urged Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing into the territory. | Mr Zuhri called on neighbouring countries to demonstrate in support of Gaza, and urged Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing into the territory. |
| Under review | Under review |
| But Israel said its lockdown of the territory had been effective in halting rocket fire. | But Israel said its lockdown of the territory had been effective in halting rocket fire. |
| "What we see is that the number of Qassam rockets was decreased dramatically," foreign ministry spokesman Mr Mekel told the BBC. | "What we see is that the number of Qassam rockets was decreased dramatically," foreign ministry spokesman Mr Mekel told the BBC. |
| Israel says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks end | Israel says border closures will stop if the rocket attacks end |
| "Last week there were about 200 rockets altogether. And now there was two today, and four yesterday... So since we are monitoring it we decided that at this time we could ease this blockade," he said. | "Last week there were about 200 rockets altogether. And now there was two today, and four yesterday... So since we are monitoring it we decided that at this time we could ease this blockade," he said. |
| Mr Merkel earlier said the government would review the situation after easing the blockade for a day. | Mr Merkel earlier said the government would review the situation after easing the blockade for a day. |
| However another rocket struck the nearby Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday. | However another rocket struck the nearby Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday. |
| The Israeli lockdown of Gaza was met with anger from the international community and aid agencies, after bakeries and petrol stations shut and hospitals were forced to rely on generators for critical power supplies on Monday. | The Israeli lockdown of Gaza was met with anger from the international community and aid agencies, after bakeries and petrol stations shut and hospitals were forced to rely on generators for critical power supplies on Monday. |
| The UN Security Council is set to meet to discuss the situation, following calls from the Arab League. | The UN Security Council is set to meet to discuss the situation, following calls from the Arab League. |
| Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Israel's prime minister Mr Olmert to warn of the humanitarian consequences of the lockdown. | Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Israel's prime minister Mr Olmert to warn of the humanitarian consequences of the lockdown. |
| But Israel accused Hamas of "fabricating" the power shortage, pointing out that the power plant in Gaza produces only a minority of the territory's power. | But Israel accused Hamas of "fabricating" the power shortage, pointing out that the power plant in Gaza produces only a minority of the territory's power. |
| It said it was still providing nearly 70% of the territory's power directly. | It said it was still providing nearly 70% of the territory's power directly. |
| Are you in Gaza City? Do you have power? What is the current situation? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you in Gaza City? Do you have power? What is the current situation? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| power - 7198798"> Name: |