Israel Issues Permit for 'Two Trucks' of Fuel to Enter Gaza Daily

An Israeli official stated on Friday, November 17, that the country's war cabinet has authorized the entry of two trucks of fuel into Gaza daily to help meet the needs of the United Nations. According to Reuters, the unnamed official added that this decision was made following a request from Washington. He said that allowing fuel into Gaza gives Israel more room to maneuver internationally to continue its campaign to destroy Hamas in the region. The United States, the European Union, and Japan have designated the Iran-backed militant group Hamas as a terrorist organization. According to this Israeli official, this amount of fuel is the 'minimum' necessary to support Gaza's water, sewage, and other health systems to prevent an outbreak of disease. Hunger in Gaza: The delivery of humanitarian aid from the United Nations to Gaza was once again suspended on Friday due to fuel shortages and communication outages. According to Reuters, this suspension exacerbated the plight of thousands of hungry and homeless Palestinians as Israeli soldiers are battling Hamas militants in the area. The World Food Program announced that civilians are facing an 'imminent risk of starvation' due to food shortages. Despite the war entering its seventh week and amid international calls for a ceasefire or at least humanitarian pauses, there are no signs of a halt. The Palestinian news agency 'Wafa' reported that in an Israeli attack on a group of refugees near the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, several Palestinians were killed and injured. Al Jazeera also reported that nine people were killed in this attack. Additionally, Al Jazeera announced that at least 18 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack on a house in the 'Nuseirat' refugee camp in central Gaza. Israel has not commented on these attacks, and Reuters cannot independently verify them. The Israeli army, which has focused its attacks in northern Gaza, announced on Friday that it continues its air and ground assaults against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets with intensity. Disease outbreak in Gaza: The World Health Organization announced on Friday that it is concerned about a disease outbreak in Gaza, as weeks of Israeli bombardment have led to overcrowding in shelters without sufficient food and clean water. Richard Piperkorn, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, stated, 'As winter approaches, we are extremely concerned about a disease outbreak.' He added that over 70,000 cases of acute respiratory infections and over 44,000 cases of diarrhea have been recorded, far exceeding expectations. The WHO had previously warned of 'concerning trends' in the spread of disease in Gaza. Israeli air and ground attacks have disrupted the health system and access to clean water, leading to a surge in people seeking refuge in shelters. The onset of the rainy season and the potential for flooding have also heightened concerns about the sewage system in this densely populated area overflowing and the spread of disease. Previously, the lack of fuel had caused the shutdown of sewage pumping stations and desalination plants, increasing the risk of water contamination and disease outbreaks. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, approximately 813,000 Palestinian refugees reside in at least 154 shelters operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.