The transfer of fuel donated by the Qatari government through Egypt is being transferred to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing at a rate of 10-15 tankers trucks – or 130,000 liters of fuel – per day. The transfer began last Thursday and is to continue for three months, in which a total of 30 million liters of diesel fuel will enter Gaza.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the fuel transfer, which is intended to relieve an ongoing shortage of fuel in Gaza. The shortage was caused by an Egyptian crackdown down on illegal fuel smuggling to Gaza, coupled with Hamas´s refusal to buy fuel from Israel. Hamas was apparently trying to pressure Egypt to sell its fuel for the same subsidized price at which it sells fuel to Egyptian citizens.

The Coordinator of Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot coordinated the transfer of fuel from Egypt through the Nitzana crossing to the Kerem Shalom crossing and then to into Gaza.

The transfer was made possible through a cooperative effort by Southern Command, the Erez District Coordination Liaison, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Defense Ministry Crossing Authority, the Air Port Authority, the Customs and Tax Authority, the Environmental Protection Ministry and the Israel Police, and coordinated with Egyptian and PA officials. (IsraelNationalNews © 2012 06/10/12)