Israel agreed to allow supplies of some fuel and medicine into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip starting today, easing a blockade that sparked international protests.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak's decision will allow the European Union to resume deliveries of industrial fuel to Gaza's main power plant, which shut down its two working turbines on Sunday, plunging much of Gaza City into darkness.
The Defence Ministry said Israel will also allow in diesel fuel for generators as well as gas used for cooking. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said restrictions would remain in place on petrol for cars.
The decision followed warnings by international agencies that Gaza hospitals would run out of drugs and generator fuel in a few days unless Israel allowed goods through border crossings closed on Friday in what Israel said was a bid to make militants stop rocket attacks.
"We hope Hamas has got the message," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel, citing a recent decline in the number of rocket attacks. "When they want to reduce the number of rockets, they can do it."
The Israeli blockade had stopped all UN aid shipments, including food and other humanitarian supplies, since Friday.
A UN agency said yesterday it would have to suspend food distribution to 860,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as early as tomorrow unless Israel eased the border blockade it imposed on the Hamas-controlled territory.
Other international groups said that Gaza hospitals would run out of drugs and generator fuel in a few days unless Israel allowed goods through border crossings closed on Friday in what Israel said was a bid to make militants stop rocket attacks.
"Because of a shortage of nylon for plastic bags and fuel for vehicles and generators, on Wednesday or Thursday we are going to have to suspend our food distribution programme to 860,000 people in Gaza if the present situation continues," said Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency prior to the Israeli statement.
The European Union, which funds fuel for Gaza's now-idle main power plant, said it understood Israel's need to defend itself against cross-border rockets but called the closure "collective punishment" and said it should be lifted.