Occupied Jerusalem, Aug. 24 (SANA) The Gaza Human Rights Center warned of the collapse of the transport sector in the Gaza Strip as Israeli occupation authorities continue to prevent the entry of spare parts, oils, tires and maintenance supplies, citing their classification as dual-use items.
The center said in a statement Sunday that about 70% of civilian vehicles had been completely or partially disabled, while direct losses in the transport sector had reached about $2.8 billion, according to official data from the Gaza Strip.
It said shortages of maintenance supplies threaten vital sectors and services, including ambulances, civil defense, water and sewage, bakeries and aid transportation. A large number of ambulances have gone out of service because of worn-out engines and shortages of oils and spare parts, further weakening the rescue system.
The center warned that the continuing crisis could lead to the shutdown of water pumps, desalination plants and sewage systems, while spare-parts prices have risen sharply, with a container of engine oil reaching about $3,500 in some cases.
The center said preventing the entry of transport and maintenance supplies was part of the broader Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and contributed to making Gaza unlivable.
It called on the international community and the United Nations to press for restrictions on the entry of these materials to be lifted and for the policy of restricting transport and rescue equipment to be included in ongoing investigations into crimes committed in the Gaza Strip.
On August 9, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor warned that Israel was deliberately paralyzing Gaza’s transport and shipping system by destroying trucks and transport-company warehouses, targeting drivers and preventing the entry of alternatives and spare parts.
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