Hamas bans use of cars that run on cooking gas for Ramadan

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Gaza's Hamas-run government banned the use of cooking gas to fuel cars in the territory on Saturday, citing expected shortages ahead of the Muslim month of Ramadan. Earlier this year, Israel slashed fuel shipments in response to attacks from the Gaza Strip, leading to a severe shortage. As a result, around 8,000 Gaza residents converted their vehicles to run on cooking gas, said Ahmad Ali, of the Palestinian Petroleum Commission. Four months ago, the strip's Hamas rulers imposed a ration on the cooking gas. But Ali said Gaza residents would need more cooking gas for the upcoming Ramadan, where the devout fast from sunrise to sunset and usually indulge in big meals and snacks through the night. Overall, food consumption tends to increase. "We have a massive shortage of (cooking) gas," Ali said.