JERUSALEM — Israel cut off the only source of fuel to the Gaza Strip’s 1.4 million people Thursday after a deadly Palestinian raid on the Israeli depot, deepening the seaside territory’s hardship.
Gaza’s Hamas rulers said more attacks will follow, as resentment grows over a months-old Israeli blockade.
The fuel cutoff that followed the daylight attack on the only fuel transfer point into Gaza brought charges that Islamic extremists were trying to provoke another round of violence with Israel, while putting Israel in the untenable position of appearing to cause a humanitarian crisis.
Though some Israelis demanded that Israel halt all supplies to Gaza, Israeli defense officials indicated the cutoff would not last past the weekend.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the attack Wednesday was only “the beginning of the eruption” against the blockade.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the main intersections of Gaza City to protest the Israeli blockade and economic sanctions. “Rescue Gaza, lift the siege imposed on Gaza,” read signs raised at one junction.
After the deadly gunfire attack on the fuel depot shattered the relative calm of the past month, Israel sent tanks, troops and aircraft into Gaza, killing at least eight Palestinians, including three civilians.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has discouraged former President Carter from meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. “We counseled against it,” department spokesman Sean McCormack said.
The Washington Post, citing the Arabic-language daily al-Hayat, said Carter plans to meet Mashaal in Damascus next week. Carter will depart April 13 on a nine-day mission to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan “as part of the Carter Center’s ongoing effort to support peace, democracy and human rights in the region,” the center said in a news release.
Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
