Despite ongoing rocket attacks by Gaza-based terrorists at southern Israel, Israel will allow fuel donated by Qatar to be pumped into Gaza via an Israeli crossing starting on Sunday.
The information was disclosed by a Palestinian Authority official who spoke to the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency on Thursday.
Delivery of Qatari fuel began in July, Ma’an reported, but was cut off after a border attack on Egyptian officers on August 5.
The official, Nazmi Muhanna, told the news agency that fuel supplies will resume Sunday after delivery from Egypt and through the Israeli Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza.
Gaza still faces up to eight hours without electricity per day, the report said. The power crisis began in mid-February, when Egypt cut off supplies via a tunnel network running under its border with Gaza.
After the August killing of 16 Egyptian border guards, Egypt moved to close more of the tunnels which are sometimes used to smuggle terrorists and weapons between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel has continued to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza despite the fact that it is being ruled by Hamas terrorists and despite the never ending rocket attacks being launched from the region.
On Wednesday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry publicized a series of Israeli measures to improve the Palestinian Authority economy, currently facing the worst crisis since its 1994 establishment.
These measures help both the PA-assigned areas of Judea and Samaria as well as Gaza. Israel has approved internationally funded and monitored projects in Gaza. Since 2011, 235 projects have been approved. In September 2012 alone, 16 new projects were approved.
Trade has expanded between Gaza and Judea and Samaria, noted the Foreign Ministry. Before the new school year began, three truckloads of furniture for schools in Judea and Samaria were transferred from Gaza.
Israel has also supported the private sector in Gaza, and has approved the transfer of raw materials for private sector construction, including roof tiles, building stones, dry wall, mosaics, adhesives, plaster, etc.
In addition to all of the above, the communication channels between Israel and the PA’s Ministry of Health have been maintained in recent years, despite Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in 2007. As part of this communication Israeli doctors have more than once helped save the lives of PA Arabs from Gaza who came to receive treatment in Israeli hospitals.
Angry at the PA-Israel cooperation, Hamas has prevented the transfer of Gaza patients to hospitals in Israel.
Despite all the assistance Israel provides to PA Arabs, both Hamas as well rival Fatah leaders constantly blame Israel for their economic woes.