A threatened shutdown of the Gaza Strip's only power plant was averted Wednesday after Israel decided to pump about 260,000 gallons of diesel fuel to the Hamas-run territory, enough to run the plant for at least three days. According to the AP, the Israeli military said early Wednesday that the fuel shipment had already started.
Kaanan Obeid, a Palestinian energy official, had warned that the plant was in danger of shutting down Wednesday if fuel was not delivered. The plant supplies a third of the coastal territory's electricity and Israel's electricity utility supplies most of the rest. Supplies from Israel have been sporadic since Palestinians attacked the Israeli fuel depot just across the border from Gaza Strip two week ago, killing two Israeli workers.
According to Obeid, reserves of industrial-grade fuel have dwindled to 400,000 litres (106,000 gallons).
