By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered on Monday the renewal of diesel shipments to the Gaza Strip’s power station starting on Wednesday, local media reported.
In addition to this, Israel will also allow shipments of cooking gas into the coastal area. At this point petrol and diesel fuels used for transportation needs will not be supplied, according to the report of Yedioth Ahronoth.
The diesel will be delivered by way of the Nahal Oz fuel depot, which was attacked last week by Palestinian terrorists who killed two depot employees during the raid.
Israel is Gaza’s sole fuel provider. In recent months, it has reduced supplies to try to pressure Palestinian gunmen to halt their rocket fire into southern Israel.
Earlier on Monday, the Gaza Strip’s four main universities shutdown after officials said students couldn’t get to class because of fuel shortages.
University officials said attendance rates were down by at least 60 percent for most classes on Monday, prompting the suspension. Most universities will suspend classes until Thursday, when officials said they would put together an emergency education plan. That may include conducting some lectures over the Internet and radio, officials said.
The shutdown affected more than 45,000 students.