Israel has used restrictions on fuel supplies and deliveries of other essential goods to Gaza as a tactic to try and pressure Hamas to stop rocket attacks on Israeli border towns, since the radical group seized control of the enclave from the Fatah movement in June.
The most recent embargo in the Palestinian enclave occurred after Palestinian militants attacked a fuel depot on the Israeli-Palestinian border two weeks ago.
John Ging, head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees in Gaza, warned in a news conference that a fuel shortage could paralyze many economic and social sectors and restrictions on goods and people crossing the border were causing misery for those living in the region.
Ging said mills, the fishing industry and farmers were all affected by the gas crisis. Educational establishments are being closed because many staff and students are unable to get to institutes. The majority of ambulances, garbage trucks and other state and public services vehicles were all lying idle.
On Wednesday, Israel resumed fuel supplies to Gaza's only power generating plant.
