Palestinians wait for gas distribution
Photo: AP
Hamas bans use of cars that run on cooking gas
Ahead of upcoming month of Ramadan, ruling Islamist movement prohibits use of cooking gas to fuel private vehicles in Gaza
Gaza's Hamas-run government banned the use of cooking gas to fuel cars in the territory on Saturday, citing expected shortages ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan.
Earlier this year, Israel slashed fuel shipments in response to attacks from the Gaza Strip, leading to a severe shortage. As a result, around 8,000 Gaza residents converted their vehicles to run on cooking gas, said Ahmad Ali, of the Palestinian Petroleum Commission.
Four months ago, the strip's Hamas rulers imposed a ration on the cooking gas. But Ali said Gaza residents would need more cooking gas for the upcoming Ramadan, where the devout fast from sunrise to sunset and usually indulge in big meals and snacks through the night. Overall, food consumption tends to increase.
"We have a massive shortage of (cooking) gas," Ali said. Gaza residents may currently only purchase six kilograms (13 pounds) of cooking gas at a time, down from 12 kilograms (26 pounds) before shortages began.
Ali said Israel has not beefed up its cooking gas supplies to Gaza, despite a June truce with Hamas that was supposed to include increases in supplies.
Ali said Hamas officials would inspect cars coming in for registration and police would also enforce the new rule.
The Hamas-run Gaza government previously banned vehicles from using vegetable oil to power diesel cars after residents reported feeling sick from smelling the fumes. Private vehicle owners appear to be abiding by the ban, but cab drivers who haul residents through Gaza still use vegetable oil, apparently because of continuing fuel shortages
