<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Union chief: Gaza facing new gas&nbsp;crisis]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=466046" target="_blank"><strong>MAAN NEWS AGENCY MARCH 7 2012</strong></a></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" data-attachment-id="79379" data-permalink="https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/union-chief-gaza-facing-new-gas-crisis/102151_345x2301/" data-orig-file="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg" data-orig-size="345,249" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="102151_345x230[1]" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg?w=345" data-large-file="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg?w=345" class="alignright  wp-image-79379" title="102151_345x230[1]" src="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg?w=200&#038;h=144" alt="" width="200" height="144" srcset="https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg?w=200&amp;h=144 200w, https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/102151_345x2301.jpg 345w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />GAZA CITY (Ma&#8217;an) &#8212; The head of Gaza&#8217;s gas station owners organization said Wednesday that the Gaza Strip is experiencing a domestic-use gas crisis after Israel reduced the amounts of fuel entering the enclave.</p>
<p>Mahmoud al-Shawwa said that over the past two weeks, Gaza has received 40 to 60 tons of domestic gas, but it needs at least 200 to 250 tons for its day-to-day operations.</p>
<p>Most of the strip&#8217;s gas stockpile had been consumed, but officials are following up with the Israeli side, he said. Israel has promised to increase the quantities starting next Sunday, he added.</p>
<p>Guy Inbar, a spokesman for the Israeli military&#8217;s civilian administration, said the Hamas government in Gaza was refusing to accept the full amount of fuel Israel is willing to send.</p>
<p>Inbar said he was aware that the shortages were causing problems in Gaza. &#8220;We spoke with senior (Palestinian Authority) people&#8221; about increasing the gas shipments. &#8220;It all depends on Hamas,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>The official said he was not familiar with any new plan to increase gas imports.</p>
<p>Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh said about 150 tons of gas came through Tuesday. That number was up from about 45 tons which was imported on Saturday, Fattouh said.</p>
<p>A power crisis, meanwhile, was sparked by a restriction on fuel smuggled into the territory from Egypt, adding to a widespread sense of discontent amongst the 1.7 million-strong population.</p>
<p>Traders who import goods from Israel and the West Bank say Hamas has introduced additional fees beyond the usual tax they collect, putting their businesses at risk and threatening livelihoods.</p>
<p>Hamas says the increase in levies is meant to protect homegrown products. But local analysts believe the group has been forced to tighten the fiscal screws at home because of a drop in funding from foreign allies, notably Iran.</p>
<p><strong>Reuters contributed to this report.</strong></p>
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<strong>Related: Deprivation of Basic Needs Cost Lives!</strong><br />
<strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"> <a href="http://bit.ly/mPHskr" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;text-decoration:underline;">Healthcare</span></a></span></span> | <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://t.co/IFAmvZ0" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;text-decoration:underline;">Electricity </span></a></span>| <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://t.co/XfAonrA" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;text-decoration:underline;">Water</span></a></span></span> | <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://wp.me/p16sn9-aIE" target="_blank"><span style="color:#ff0000;text-decoration:underline;">Communication</span></a> </span></span></strong></p>
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