The Israeli occupation authorities have blocked access to fuel and medical aid among other life-saving items urgently needed in the beleaguered Gaza Strip, warned a UN Agency on Wednesday.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it received today just over 23,000 litres of fuel to the besieged Gaza Strip but the Israeli authorities restricted the use of this fuel only to transport the little aid coming via Egypt.

“This fuel cannot be used for the overall humanitarian response, including for medical and water facilities or the work of UNRWA”, said the Agency. 

“It is appalling that fuel continues to be used as a weapon of war. For the past five weeks, UNRWA has been pleading to get fuel in support of the humanitarian operation in Gaza. This seriously paralyses our work and the delivery of assistance to the Palestinian communities in Gaza”, it added. 

The UN agency further warned that by the end of today, around 70 per cent of people in Gaza will not have clean water.  Key services including water desalination plants, sewage treatments and hospitals have ceased to operate

“To have fuel for trucks only will not save lives anymore. Waiting longer will cost lives”, it said. “Much more fuel is needed. We need 160,000 litres of fuel every day for basic humanitarian operations.”

UNRWA called on the Israeli Authorities to immediately authorize the delivery of the needed amount of fuel as is required under international humanitarian law.