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Friday, October 23, 2009

Israel to close down main Gaza fuel terminal

Tel Aviv is moving towards gradual closure of the fuel terminal at the Nahal Oz crossing along the border with the Gaza Strip which has long been under a tight Israeli siege.

"The decision... was Israel's, and it's ultimately up to the occupation, whether or not Palestinians object. Israeli authorities were already transferring equipment that pumps fuel to the Kerem Shalom crossing in preparation for the shutting down of Nahal Oz," the Gaza crossings representative, Raed Fattouh, was quoted as saying by Ma'an news agency.

The decision to decommission the Nahal Oz crossing terminal had been taken several months earlier, but announced on Thursday after Israel announced it planned to transfer Nahal's responsibilities to the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The closure of the Nahal Oz fuel terminal will violate previously signed economic agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

According to agreements reached between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel, Palestinians were guaranteed a role in operating the Nahal Oz crossing, but not Kerem Shalom, since it is on Israeli territory.

Palestinian officials warn that the fuel terminal at the Nahal Oz crossing between Israel and Gaza will be non-operational by November 1, 2009.

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