After facing intense pressure from aid groups and international officials, Israel has agreed to permit the delivery of fuel to Gaza to address urgent humanitarian needs. The announcement comes more than a month into the siege on Gaza and amidst growing concerns about the outbreak of diseases due to the halted operations of sewage and wastewater treatment systems.

Israeli officials, including national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, confirmed on Friday that the war cabinet had agreed to allow 140,000 liters (about 37,000 gallons) of fuel into the territory every two days. The majority of the fuel will be allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support its humanitarian efforts, including aid distribution, powering water pumps, desalination plants, hospitals, and bakeries. The remaining fuel will be provided to the Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel to maintain phone and internet services in Gaza.

The decision to allow fuel deliveries followed intense diplomatic efforts by the United States, spearheaded by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The U.S. has been pressing for the resumption of fuel supply to combat the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A U.S. State Department official confirmed that the fuel deliveries could commence as early as Saturday.

While the allowed quantity of fuel is considered to be insufficient to meet the overall needs, the resumption of deliveries is seen as a crucial step forward in addressing the immediate concerns. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric highlighted that the fuel allocation is "barely a drop in the bucket" considering the scale of requirements.

Israel's previous blockade of fuel supplies was based on concerns that Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, might divert the resources for military purposes. However, with fuel reserves in Gaza depleted, aid convoys, including food and medical supplies, came to a halt. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini criticized the situation, stating that humanitarian agencies were forced to beg for fuel and make difficult decisions on whom they could assist.

In addition to aiding humanitarian efforts, the resumption of fuel deliveries is expected to restore communication services which have been disrupted by repeated blackouts in Gaza. Aid groups have highlighted the detrimental impact of the communication breakdown on coordination and hindered Palestinians from reaching out to their families, both inside and outside the region.

It is crucial to note that the fuel deliveries will be restricted to southern Gaza, while the Israeli ground invasion focuses on northern Gaza, particularly Gaza City. The ongoing airstrikes continue to impact the entire territory.

Since October 7, when a deadly Hamas attack occurred on Israeli towns around Gaza, the Israeli military campaign has claimed the lives of at least 11,470 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The ministry also mentioned challenges in updating casualty figures due to communication issues in recent days. Approximately 240 hostages, captured during the October 7 attack, are still believed to be held in Gaza.

As the fuel deliveries are expected to begin, there is hope that they will provide much-needed relief to Gaza and enable humanitarian agencies to continue their critical work in assisting the population affected by the ongoing conflict.