Gaza’s Palestinians hit by fuel crisis amid Egypt, Hamas dispute

PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinians in Israel-besieged Gaza Strip are suffering a crisis of dry petrol pumps and frequent blackouts triggered by a fuel supply dispute between Egypt and Hamas, World Bulletin reported.

Taxis are scarce, with would-be passengers fighting for rides, and the government has ordered civil servants with vehicles to pick up hitchhikers.

Gaza's emergency medical service has halved the number of ambulances it puts on the streets. At least one hospital has cancelled non-essential operations to conserve power for its generator.

Last month, Egypt began restricting the flow of fuel to Gaza through the network of smuggling tunnels running under their border. Gaza's lone power plant ran out of fuel for its generators, causing outages affecting nearly two-thirds of the area's population of 1.7 million.

Egypt insists sending fuel through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing.

Hamas objects. It is opposed to giving its occupier, Israel, the opportunity to block supplies in times of tension and wants direct trade with Egypt, a move that could strengthen Gaza's economy and Hamas's popularity.

Some Hamas sources accused Egypt of creating fuel shortages to pressure the movement to implement a unity deal with Abbas. Mohammed Awad, the deputy prime minister in the Gaza Strip, said the crisis was politically motivated and Hamas "will overcome it".

Hamas's Gaza-based leadership has balked at the accord signed by Khaled Meshaal, a leader of the group who lives in exile, because it fears the reconciliation agreement could weaken its control.

The shortages have spawned a black market, with the price of a litre of diesel approaching seven Israeli shekels ($1.87) compared with 2.50 shekels ($0.67) before the crisis.