Israel informed the U.S. about a contingency plan for supplying fuel to southern Gaza under international monitoring in case more hospitals face shortages, as revealed by two Israeli officials to Axios.

Why it matters: For weeks, humanitarian organizations have been demanding the entry of fuel into the Strip due to the closure of hospitals or their imminent risk resulting from severe shortages.

• After the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, Israel imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off electricity and blocking the passage of fuel, food, and medical supplies into the enclave.
• In recent weeks, Israel has permitted a limited number of trucks carrying supplies into Gaza from Egypt, but it has so far refused to allow fuel into the Strip, citing concerns that Hamas would acquire the fuel.

Current situation: Last Thursday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, stated that Israel would supply fuel to hospitals under monitoring when necessary.

• However, after a meeting with Secretary of State Tony Blinken on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not allow any fuel into Gaza.
• Nevertheless, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is reportedly preparing for a method to provide fuel to Gaza if deemed necessary by Israel, as per the sources.

Behind the scenes: Israeli officials, in conjunction with experts from international aid organizations , have calculated the required amount of fuel to sustain operation in hospitals and critical facilities for a short, limited duration.

• According to the plan presented to the U.S., which must be approved by the Israeli war cabinet, fuel tankers from Egypt would enter the Gaza strip with a set quantity of fuel sufficient to maintain the operation of hospitals and other humanitarian facilities for a specific period, as explained by the Israeli officials.
• Each fuel tanker would be accompanied by a UN team responsible for closely monitoring and ensuring the delivery of the fuel to hospitals for its intended purpose.

• Once the fuel is depleted, the process would be repeated, providing fuel for another short and limited period, according to Israeli officials.
• A spokesperson for COGAT declined to comment, and the UN has not immediately responded to the request for comment.

Current situation: Israeli officials assert that there is currently enough fuel in Gaza to operate generators in hospitals and other humanitarian facilities.

• On Friday, the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) stated, citing the Ministry of Health in Hamas-controlled Gaza, that 16 hospitals and 51 primary health care centers are “out of service due to conflict or the lack of fuel.”
• The officials added that Hamas supplies fuel to hospitals in northern Gaza from its stockpile, estimated at half a million liters by Israel. Israeli officials also commented that hospitals in southern Gaza receive fuel from UNRWA.
• U.S. special envoy David Satterfield mentioned on Saturday in Amman that there is an agreed mechanism to bring fuel into Gaza when supplies run out, without providing further details.