After hiatus, Israel allows fuel back into Gaza

<p>By Abdel Raouf Arnaout</p> <p>JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli authorities on Tuesday allowed fuel shipments to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip after a days-long hiatus caused by recent escalations between Israel and Gaza-based resistance groups.</p> <p>According to the Israeli Broadcast Authority, Tuesday’s fuel shipments entered the enclave through the Kerem Shalom land crossing linking Gaza to Israel and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.</p> <p>On Saturday and Sunday, the Israeli army pounded the Hamas-run coastal enclave with airstrikes and artillery barrages, while resistance factions responded by firing rockets towards southern Israel.</p> <p>The violence ended at dawn Monday, when a ceasefire — the exact terms of which remain unclear — went into effect.</p> <p>At least 27 Palestinians were killed in the exchange and scores more injured, while four Israelis were killed, according to Israeli media reports.</p> <p>The escalation began last Friday when four Palestinians were killed by Israeli military strikes on Hamas-affiliated positions in Gaza.</p> <p>*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat</p>