Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday refused to allow the supply of fuel into the Gaza Strip, shortly after the Army Chief said fuel could enter the blocked territory for hospitals there, Anadolu Agency reports.
Earlier Thursday, Army Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, said Israel would allow fuel to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing with Egypt should Tel Aviv determine that hospitals have run out of fuel.
“We have not brought fuel in to this point. We check the situation in the Strip every day,” he told reporters.
International organisations have warned that hospitals in Gaza are about to halt operations amid an Israeli blockade and lack of fuel.
This week, the Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas on 7 October.
Nearly 10,600 people have been killed in the conflict, including 9,061 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.
Besides the large number of casualties and displacement, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.
Source : MEMO