Israeli officials oppose decision to halt Gaza fuel

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Israeli security officials has opposed a decision by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to halt fuel shipments to the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to Israeli daily Haaretz on Sunday.

On Friday, Lieberman ordered a halt to fuel shipments to the Palestinian territory following protests on Gaza border, in which seven Palestinians were martyred and scores injured.

But Lieberman’s decision was opposed by security officials, who believe that it is impossible to pressure Hamas – which rules Gaza – and completely halt all shipments without worsening the humanitarian situation in the strip, Haaretz said.

Last week, Haaretz reported that a deal had been struck with Qatar by which the latter would finance fuel procurements for Gaza.

Since 2007, when Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Hamas, the coastal enclave has groaned under an Israeli blockade that has deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.

Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured in anti-occupation protests along Gaza border.

Protesters demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade on Gaza and the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.