Israel has agreed to allow the entry of fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip. The country has announced that two fuel trucks will be allowed to enter the Palestinian enclave every day. This decision has been taken under pressure from the international community, primarily the United States.
As a result of this decision, the crisis of severe fuel shortages in Gaza is expected to ease, although the suffering of the Gazans in the midst of the ongoing conflict will continue. An official from the U.S. State Department stated that approximately 140,000 liters of fuel will be permitted to enter Gaza every two days.
A significant portion of this fuel will be used for the movement of trucks providing humanitarian aid, ensuring water and sanitation facilities in war-torn Gaza. The United Nations will oversee the distribution of this aid. The remaining fuel will be utilized to maintain uninterrupted telecommunications and internet services.
It has been mentioned from the U.S. side that the decision to supply fuel to Gaza was taken several weeks ago, but there were delays in making the announcement for two reasons. Firstly, the fuel did not reach southern Gaza as expected, according to Israeli officials who informed the United States. Secondly, Israel sought assurance from Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, that releasing some detained individuals would be part of the exchange for providing this assistance.
However, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Thursday that due to the severe fuel crisis, all its operations in Gaza might come to a halt. Following this, Israel informed the UN that it would allow the supply of fuel to Gaza to alleviate the crisis.
The situation in Gaza remains fragile, and the provision of fuel is seen as a temporary relief measure. The underlying challenges and tensions in the region persist, making a comprehensive resolution crucial for sustainable stability.
