The United Nations says it has suspended humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, including food for 650,000 refugees, because of lack of fuel.

John Ging is head of United Nations relief operations in Gaza.

"We are running out of diesel fuel this evening which means that we will have to stop our major food operation here which is feeding almost 700-thousand refugees. So that is the first and the most immediate consequence of the cut off of fuel to the Gaza strip. We have not received any fuel at the UN since the first of April. That is why we have run out."

UN agencies have warnedw that critical food distribution operations would cease unless Israel allows further supplies through.
The streets of Gaza City stood quiet with little traffic Thursday, as fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip were expected to run out by the afternoon.

Israel has heavily restricted the flow of goods into Gaza since Hamas seized control last June. Reports say it imposed an economic blockade bringing duress to an impoverished population, consequently triggering the fuel crisis.