Israel is sending diesel fuel to power the Gaza electric plant. It’s actually a smart move. If Hamas refuses to power it up, Israel can say, “Hey, we just sent you the fuel. You’re not using it.”
A day after Gaza went dark following the shutdown of its only power station due to Israel’s decision to stop it supply of fuel to the Palestinian territory, Defense Minister Ehud Barak authorized a one-time shipment of diesel fuel to power the Hamas-controlled region’s only electricity station.
Barak also authorized the entry of humanitarian aid to the Strip, including medicines.
Defense officials clarified that despite the drop in Qassam rocket barrages against Israel’s south over the past few days, the current restrictions being imposed on Gaza will remain.
Earlier in the day Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said that Hamas could change the situation in Gaza in a minute’s time “if they would only stop the terrorism.”
I’m very interested in seeing how this will play out in world media. But we can pretty much predict the UN and other responses: “Well, it’s good that Gaza now has the fuel to run its electric plant, but it’s not enough. Israel must end the embargo, etc., etc.”
Update 1:35 p.m.: And here’s the AP update, first five grafs:
Israel Agrees to Ease Gaza Blockade
Israel agreed Monday to diesel fuel and medicine into Gaza on a one-time basis, easing the blockade imposed because of a surge in Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. The shift came after the Israeli prime minister said Gaza’s residents can “walk, without gas for their cars.”Israel and Gaza’s Hamas government were locked in a public relations battle over the depth of the hardship, and the U.N. warned that international food aid could be suspended by the end of the week. An angry Hamas TV announcer shouted that “we are being killed, we are starving!” and Palestinian leaders issued emotional pleas for national unity, while Israel accused Hamas of fabricating a crisis to gain world sympathy.
Late Monday, Israel decided to allow some diesel fuel and medicine into Gaza on Tuesday.
“We think Hamas got the message. As we have seen in the past couple of days, when they want to stop the rockets, they can,” said the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Arye Mekel, confirming the decision.
Gaza’s power plant shut down late Sunday, plunging Gaza City into darkness, and gas stations and many bakeries stopped operating. Health officials warned that hospital generators were running out of fuel.
The rest is just about the same as the articles quoted below.