'fuel not allowed under any circumstances' says Israeli Minister

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Saturday that fuel will not enter Gaza “under any circumstances.”

"Gaza will be under Israeli control after the war," Israeli Channel 12 quoted Smotrich, without further details.

Israel has prevented fuel and electricity from entering Gaza, while it severely restricted water, food and medicine since the start of a new conflict on Oct. 7.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said Saturday that crews received 47 trucks Friday loaded with aid through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, while fuel continued to be prevented.

The UN and international organizations warned that the lack of fuel has had numerous negative effects, especially in hospitals, which depend on fuel to run power generators after electricity was cut off last month.

The fuel shortage has left hospitals, bakeries and drinking water pumping engines out of service, intensifying the humanitarian catastrophe in the blockaded enclave.

UN officials repeatedly urged Israel to allow fuel into the Gaza Strip and stressed that "hospitals cannot be part of any combat."

UN chief Antonio Guterres repeatedly stressed the need for "immediate and rapid delivery of food, fuel, water, to the Gaza Strip."