Egyptian media and two security sources told Reuters on Wednesday that a truck loaded with fuel started crossing from Egypt to the besieged Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing. A humanitarian source indicated that Israel allowed the entry of 24,000 liters of diesel fuel into Gaza for use by UN aid distribution trucks, and not for hospitals. Limited shipments of humanitarian aid have been crossing from Egypt to Gaza since October 21, but Israel has refused to allow fuel entry, claiming that Hamas has ample reserves of it.
In recent days, the United Nations warned that it would have to stop humanitarian operations, including aid distribution within Gaza, as its fuel supplies were running completely dry. Relief workers say that the shortage of fuel needed to operate generators in hospitals and to provide water and distribute relief supplies has sharply worsened the conditions for Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
An informed international source noted that the first 24,000 liters of fuel is scheduled to be delivered over two days, at a rate of 12,000 liters per day. The source, who requested anonymity, remarked, "This is not enough for anything, not for hospitals or even to deliver aid. It is only sufficient to bring in some supplies from outside, which have been rained on, for example, into the warehouses." Witnesses reported that two other trucks were waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing for entry into the sector, but it is still unclear when they will enter.
