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Hamas Attacks Palestinian Fuel Supply

5/16/2008

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In an effort to create a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip—and thus manipulate world opinion against Israel—the terrorist group Hamas has been attacking vital crossing points and energy supply lines along the Gaza-Israel border.

In mid-April, suicide bombers drove three explosives-laden vehicles into the Kerem Shalom border crossing, where approximately 200 trucks of essential food and medical supplies pass through each week. Thirteen Israeli soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Two weeks earlier, Palestinian terrorists attacked the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, which delivers nearly 800,000 gallons of fuel each week to Gaza hospitals and to the Gaza City power station. Two Israeli workers were killed in the attack—civilians whose job it was to ensure that Palestinians receive the fuel they need.

On May 4, the Israel Defense Forces was forced to halt food and fuel shipments as delivery vehicles came under heavy mortar fire. About 50 trucks were forced to turn back as a result of the barrage.

On multiple occasions over the past month, Hamas terrorists have confiscated fuel trucks departing from Nahal Oz, hoarding fuel for its own use and driving up the price of gasoline. And in yet another publicity stunt, Hamas has started using its own police cars to ferry around Palestinians who cannot afford fuel.
Not every Palestinian was willing to see Hamas as heroic. “They want to fool the people,” one Gazan told the Associated Press. “They are trying to make the people forget who is behind our suffering.”

Meanwhile, as Egypt attempts to mediate a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal told Al Jazeera that his terrorist group would only accept a cease-fire as a temporary “tactic” in its long-term war against the Jewish state.

“It is normal for any resistance... to sometimes escalate, other times retreat a bit... Hamas is known for that,” Mashaal said. “In 2003, there was a cease-fire and then the operations were resumed.” He warned of more violence if Israel rejected his ultimatum.