Israel resumes fuel supply for Gaza power station

Israel began pumping fuel for the Gaza Strip's only power plant through a cross-border pipeline, averting a threatened shutdown, officials said.

Israel closed its Nahal Oz depot on Thursday after Palestinian militants fired at fuel tankers there, an Israeli official said. "The terminal was opened today and one million litres of diesel will be pumped in for Gaza's power station," an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

Derar Abu Sissi, director of the power plant, said two tankers loaded with fuel, which is funded by the European Union, had arrived at the electricity generating station. He said deliveries totalling 1 million litres (265,000 gallons) were expected.

Kanan Abaid, deputy chairman of the Palestinian Energy Authority in the Gaza Strip, told a news conference yesterday the plant would have to shut down this evening unless supplies resumed.