Israel lifts fuel sanctions on Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Israeli officials Sunday announced the restoration of fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip, the Jerusalem Post reported.

A half-million gallons of fuel per week will be shipped to the Gaza Strip in response to a petition filed in the Israeli High Court of Justice by two human rights groups protesting the fuel blockade, the Post said.

The petitioners, however, criticized the embargo's lifting, saying the half-million gallons were not enough to meet the needs of Palestinians living in the area, the newspaper said.

Israel imposed a fuel blockade on the Gaza Strip and sealed all border crossings in response to increased Qassam rocket attacks targeting Israeli interests in the town of Sderot and communities in the western Negev.