By Xinhua,
Gaza : Palestinian gas union on Saturday rejected Israeli statements that the Palestinians, led by Hamas, are responsible for the fuel shortages in Gaza Strip.
On Friday, Col.Nir Press, head of the coordination and liaison administration to the Gaza Strip, said “the Palestinians, led by the Hamas organization, are creating shortages, misery and disaster.”
He added that there was up to one million liters of fuel stored at the Palestinian fuel depot at Nahal Oz crossing and the Palestinians have not taken any of that fuel during the past month.
Mahmoud al-Khozendar, vice-president of the Petrol Station Owners Association in Gaza, agreed that the Palestinian depots have 720,000 liters of vehicle diesel and 188,000 liters of Benzene.
But he said these amounts, which have been accumulating since weeks, “are enough for one day in the normal situation, but given the current crisis, they will run out in less than three hours if they were distributed.”
He added that Press’ statements were “foolish,” urging the Israeli official “not to keep speaking ridiculous things.”
Since April 6, Israel did not allow any fuel into Gaza except 300 tons of cooking gas, enough for one normal day, and two million liters of industrial diesel which goes to Gaza power plant, al-Khozendar explained.
Before Israel started to reduce the fuel, Gaza used to expend 120,000 liters of gasoline, 350,000 vehicle diesel and 350 tons of cooking gas per day.
The association says they can’t receive the reduced amounts because they will cause more troubles since they will be running out hours after being brought into Gaza.