Israel to reportedly let UNRWA trucks in Gaza refuel for first time since war erupted

For the first time during the against Hamas, Israel will reportedly allow UNRWA’s trucks in Gaza to refuel tomorrow at Egypt’s Rafah crossing.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has been providing fuel for humanitarian purposes in Gaza for the past two weeks in coordination with the IDF but has been running low in recent days, a US official tells the Walla news site.

Israel has thus far resisted efforts to allow fuel into Gaza, arguing that it will be diverted by Hamas. It says it tried to bring 300 liters of fuel to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City but was turned down by the hospital’s administrators.

But following weeks of pressure from the Biden administration, Israel has now agreed to a plan that will allow fuel into Gaza via UNRWA’s trucks.

An Israeli source tells Walla that the deal will see the UNRWA trucks refueled with 48 hours-worth of supply and will receive another two-day supply once the first runs out.

A humanitarian source quoted by Reuters says the trucks will receive 24,000 liters of diesel fuel, none of which will go to hospitals. The source also says the US pressured the UN to take the fuel.

A spokesperson for UNRWA says they had no information to provide when asked for comment.

The spokesperson points to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini’s statement earlier today in which he called for fuel to be allowed into Gaza.

“UNRWA set off alarm bells over the fuel situation three weeks ago, warning about its fast-depleting supplies, and the impact on lifesaving operations,” Lazzarini said in the statement. “Since then, we have heavily rationed the use of fuel and accessed pre-existing, limited amounts stored in a depot inside the Gaza Strip, through close coordination with Israeli Authorities. The depot is now empty.”

“It is unbelievable that humanitarian agencies have to beg for fuel and operate on life support. Since the beginning of the war, fuel has been used as a weapon of war and this should stop immediately.”