The Israeli army rejected demands from a UN agency Tuesday to allow fuel into the blockaded Gaza Strip amid relentless airstrikes on the Palestinian territory.
"Fuel will not enter the Gaza Strip. Hamas needs it for its operational infrastructure," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in statements cited by Haaretz newspaper.
"Hamas can return the fuel it stole from UNRWA hospitals," he said.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency warned earlier Tuesday that operations would stop in the Gaza Strip late Wednesday if fuel shipments were not allowed into the enclave.
"Gaza operation will end tomorrow if we don't get fuel," UNRWA said in a statement.
Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, putting the territory's 2.3 million residents under total siege and a blockade of food, fuel and medical supplies.
More than 7,100 people have been killed in the latest conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
