As fuel cutoff takes effect in Gaza, traffic stops, clinics cut back treatment

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4 December 2007

Tuesday December 04, 2007 04:17
by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Israel’s controversial decision to cut off fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip has come into effect, with the Palestinian population in Gaza unable to travel by car between locations in Gaza. The population is already prevented from traveling anywhere outside of Gaza, as Israeli forces have completely sealed the borders.

In addition, many Palestinians who depend on gas for cooking fuel will be unable to cook with the cut-off in place.

Israeli authorities ruled to cut off fuel supplies to Gaza as a response to several homemade shells that were fired by Palestinian resistance fighters across the closed border from Gaza into Israel. But many international, Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups have condemned the move as a form of collective punishment against the 1.3 million Palestinians living inside the closed borders of the Gaza Strip.

Several Israeli groups filed a petition with the Israeli High Court challenging the move, but the Court upheld the Israeli government’s decision.

Palestinian doctors in Gaza have pointed out that the cutoff will also affect the operation of hospitals in Gaza, which could result in the further loss of life of patients. At least five Palestinians have died due to being denied exit from Gaza for medical treatment.

"The Israeli decision is a death penalty," said Khaled Radi, the head of the Health Ministry in Gaza. "Our reserve of fuel is almost zero and maybe it will run out by the end of today.” He noted that two clinics have already had to scale back treatment as a result of the fuel cut-off.

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