Egypt Allows Diesel Entry into Gaza Via Rafah Crossing

Gaza, 26 Ramadhan 1438/21 June 2017 (MINA) – Egypt has today allowed diesel to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing to run its sole power plant, which shut down for nearly two months.

Several trucks were seen entering Gaza loaded with one million litres of diesel destined for the enclave’s power plant, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.

Egypt’s actions come following a meeting between a Hamas delegation and Egyptian officials last week in Cairo during which Egypt promised to open Rafah crossing for the diesel entry.

Head of the financial department in the Administrative Committee in Gaza, Yousef al-Kayali, revealed that an additional one million litres of diesel is expected to reach Gaza later today or tomorrow morning.

The diesel is only destined for Gaza’s power plant and not for vehicles, he pointed out.

This week Israel reduced the electricity it supplies to the besieged enclave by 24 megawatts at the request of the Palestinian Authority, further worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.(T/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)