In a significant development, fuel trucks made their way into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning via the Rafah crossing. This marked the first instance of fuel shipments entering Gaza since the onset of the conflict. These shipments were in addition to the 20 trucks that had previously entered the region, carrying essential humanitarian supplies, including medicine and water.
This move comes against the backdrop of a conflict that has seen over 200 Israeli abductees brutally executed in Gaza. At the outset of the hostilities, President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had jointly expressed their commitment to providing vital and lasting assistance to the Gaza Strip. However, the Prime Minister's office swiftly moved to quash rumors, asserting that Israel would neither extend humanitarian aid to Gaza nor permit unsupervised deliveries from other parties.
Telecom company in Gaza: “Communications service in the Strip comes to total halt as fuel supply exhausted”. pic.twitter.com/SgUAfjBeDZ
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) November 15, 2023
Despite this official denial, reports continue to emerge of regular shipments of medical equipment finding their way into Gaza. On this particular day, a significant development was witnessed as fuel trucks were allowed entry for the first time. It is worth noting that many government ministers had voiced their opposition to such a decision in the past. Yariv Levin, for instance, stated unequivocally in an interview, "Fuel equates to aid for Hamas, and this is a red line that we must not cross." The report indicates that a total of 24,000 liters of fuel, designated for UNRWA trucks, were delivered to the Gaza Strip on this occasion. At the time of writing, there has been no official response from the Israeli government regarding this development.
The decision to permit fuel deliveries has not been without controversy. Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Beiteinu party, vehemently condemned this decision, stating, "The decision to unilaterally allow the transfer of fuel to the Gaza Strip, without any humanitarian gesture towards our abductees, and in contradiction to all the statements made at the onset of the conflict, is nothing short of a delusion. It exemplifies the inability of our decision-makers to withstand the pressures and uphold their commitments. Responding to the UN's request, especially in light of the Secretary-General's anti-Israel remarks bordering on anti-Semitism, is unwarranted. He habitually disseminates falsehoods and directly aids the Hamas killers."
USA: Hamas has taken over and is using hospitals. Israel tried to deliver fuel to GAZA hospitals in the past 24HRS, Hamas prevented the supplies, and prefers Palestinians die. pic.twitter.com/vZT8qdqpYF
— Ron M. (@Jewtastic) November 14, 2023
Lieberman continued, "As I've previously noted, this conduct regrettably reinforces the image of Israel as a nation that struggles to safeguard its own interests. It portrays a country whose decision-makers falter in making tough choices and are unable to withstand international pressures."
This development follows reports from Israel suggesting that a senior political official believes a deal to secure the release of hostages may materialize within the next 48 to 72 hours. According to the same source, the War Cabinet was set to convene that night to discuss the specifics of this potential deal.
