Hamas urges end to Gaza fuel strike

Hamas's government in the Gaza Strip asked a striking Palestinian fuel association today to resume deliveries in the impoverished territory, a Hamas official said.

Israel has sharply cut back on the amount of fuel pumped into the Gaza Strip, which Hamas Islamists seized after routing forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in June.

The association said it went on strike to protest against the limited supplies, preventing one million litres in fuel tanks on the Gaza-side of a border crossing from being delivered.

Israel has accused Hamas and the association of preventing those supplies from reaching UN aid agencies and ordinary Gazans. The largest UN aid agency in Gaza last week announced the suspension of operations, citing the shortage of fuel.

Israel said that attacks by Palestinian militants at border crossing have forced them to temporarily close crossings used to provide supplies to Gaza, home to 1.5 million people.

The Hamas official said members of the government met with the leaders of the association and asked them to resume fuel deliveries.

The Hamas official said that Israeli officials have told Egypt and the United Nations fuel supplies to Gaza would increase once the tanks are emptied.

Peter Lerner, spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, said the moment the tanks are emptied, more fuel will be pumped. He said he was not aware of plans to increase supplies.

The UN declined to comment.

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