Israel stops sending fuel to Gaza over fire balloons

TEL AVIV / GAZA (Reuters) – Israel said on Thursday that it would stop sending fuel to Gaza in response to Palestinians in the enclave launching balloons that had ignited tracts of agricultural land on the Israeli border.

Palestinians in Islamist-controlled Hamas-ruled Gaza have launched dozens of helium balloons in recent days with materials of ignition to pressure Israel to reduce its blockade of territory.

Fuel shipments were halted “in light of the ongoing launch of incendiary balloons from the Strip to (Israel) and the undermining of security stability,” a statement from the Department of Defense said.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the measure a “serious act of aggression” that would deepen Gaza’s economic hardship.

Stopping fuel transport could shut down Gaza’s sole energy installation and lead to further cuts in electricity, said Mohammad Thabet, an official at Gaza’s main energy distribution company.

Gaza relies on Israel for most of its energy needs. The population of two million currently receives about six hours of electricity followed by a 10 hour power outage.

During the day, Israeli war plans and tanks hit what the military said were Hamas facilities, calling it a response to the balloons. Israel had previously shut down the main commercial crossing of Gaza and reduced the area where it allows Palestinians to fish.

In Gaza City, a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was damaged by one of the strikes, the Gaza Interior Ministry said.

The school was empty at the time and there were no reports of casualties. “Apparently the device did not explode,” a UNRWA statement said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the report was verified.

Israel and Hamas have been fighting three wars since 2008 and have been trading battles in recent years. Seated over security concerns, Israel maintains tight control over its border crossing with Gaza and imposes a naval blockade.