Israel Agrees to Ease Blockade on Gaza

Monday, Israel agreed to diesel fuel and medicine for Gaza on a one-time basis, easing the blockade imposed because of a surge in Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. The shift came after the Israeli prime minister said Gaza's residents can just walk without gas for their cars. Israel and Gaza's Hamas government were locked in a public relations battle over the depth of the hardship. The U.N. warned that international food aid could be suspended by the end of the week. An angry Hamas TV announcer was heard shouting that they were being killed and starving and Palestinian leaders issued emotional pleas for national unity, while Israel accused Hamas of fabricating a crisis to gain world sympathy.