US says more fuel needs to move into Gaza

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US said Thursday that more fuel needs to move into Gaza and it is needed not just for delivery trucks but for hospitals and other humanitarian purposes.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said fuel moved Wednesday into Gaza to allow delivery trucks to continue to do their work.

Asked by Anadolu about US efforts to allow more fuel into Gaza and if Washington agreed that Israel is using fuel as a weapon of war, Miller responded: “I would say we agree that more fuel needs to move into Gaza.”

“We've been very clear about this publicly. We've been clear about privately. We want fuel to move into Gaza, not just for the delivery of trucks,” he said.

“So we are very supportive of the delivery of fuel. It's something that we have actively pushed for with the Israeli government,” he said, adding that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had conversations Wednesday with members of the Israeli government about fuel.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said shortly after diesel fuel trucks arrived through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, that the amount was just 9% of what is needed daily.

“This is the equivalent of half a truck! Not at all enough. Much more is needed. Fuel is being used as weapon of war, this must stop,” UNRWA wrote on X.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said fuel “continues to be used as a weapon of war."