Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli-imposed changes to the fuel transfer point in Gaza have lead to a shortage of cooking gas for residents and the closure of dozens of fuel and gas stations as supplies remain low.

Head of the society of the owners of the fuel and gas stations in Gaza Mahmoud Ash-Shawwa said Friday that filling stations for cooking fuel had been closed for more than 25 days already.

"At least 60 percent of the bakeries here do not have any more cooking gas," he said.

Ash-Shawwa blamed the shortage on Israel's decision last month to shut down the Nahal Oz crossing, currently the only fuel transfer point for the Gaza Strip, and instead divert fuel transfer infrastructure to the Kerem Shalom crossing.

"Since the switch started we have noticed supplies dwindle," the official noted, wondering aloud why the switch was going forward. "The infrastructure of Nahal Oz met the needs of Gaza."

As the changes proceed, Ash-Shawwa said cooking gas supplies have shrunk. "We only received 2,500 tons of cooking gas in September," he said, noting “Gaza needs 4,500 tons of gas per month in summer and 6,000 tons per month in the winter."

Most homes in Gaza do not have central heating, and Palestinians use gas-heaters fitted with cooking gas canisters to warm homes as outdoor temperatures drop as low as zero in late winter.

In October, according to Ash-Shawwa, the Strip received only 1,500 tons of cooking gas. "Now we are in the middle of November we only received 500 tons... We have been using the stored amounts of fuel, but even those are out now."

Ash-Shawwa said he had sent letters to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, asking that he contact the Middle East Quartet or the Israelis to make sure enough fuel made it through to Gazans. He warned of an impending disaster if the fuel, used to heat homes and fire up kitchens, did not get through.

The official also expressed concern over the transfer of industrial fuel, saying the Kerem Shalom crossing was not equipped to transfer the high-grade fuel for the Gaza power plant.

The Palestinian Authority said it would work urgently with Israeli decision-makers to ensure fuel continued to be transferred into the Strip.