United Nations Radio

The Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), says the Nahal Oz fuel crossing, between Gaza and Israel, was open Wednesday.~

But the Office says the Israeli Defence Forces closed it after less than 230,000 liters of fuel were delivered, citing ongoing clashes on the Gaza side.

UNSCO warns that, if no industrial fuel deliveries are allowed in tomorrow-Thursday, Gaza's power plant will have to be switched off this weekend.

Apart from the fuel crossing, all Gaza commercial crossings remained closed Wednesday for the seventh day in a row.

Over this time period, no humanitarian or commercial commodities have been allowed in. According to UNSCO, there are concerns in Gaza over the growing shortage of cooking gas, and a number of bakeries have been forced to shut down, leading to worries about the availability of bread.

Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) says the current blockade of Gaza is affecting its operations "as never before." Materials being prevented from entering the Strip include linens for a center for blind children, textbooks for young students, and fire extinguishers.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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