Mills are running out of supplies but Israel says its blockade of the Palestinian territory will end only when militants quit firing rockets across the border.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak has rebuffed calls by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reopen border crossings to avert a looming humanitarian crisis. The Hamas-run Gaza Strip has been mostly closed by Israel during two weeks of violence. Barak says "Israel is sensitive and attentive to the humanitarian needs" but "Hamas has to impose the ceasefire on smaller groups" and restore calm. Industrial fuel hasn't been delivered to Gaza's only power plant since last week. Some basic humanitarian supplies were trucked in two days ago, but there's been nothing since. Mills are running out of flour and other supplies. This baker says he'll soon have nothing on his shelves. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAKERY OWNER ABU HAMDI SAYING: "I have flour that will last me only for today. If I have to follow up on the orders outside it means that I will run in two to three hours."The 750,000 Palestinians who live in Gaza are used to doing without. But bread is basic, It's the main part of most meals in the daily struggle to feed families. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) GAZA RESIDENT BASSEM HASSIRA SAYING: "We want everyone to sell bread. I have 12 children and there is no bread to last them for three days. Where are they supposed to get food? Where are they supposed to get something to drink? We want a solution. We want them to open the crossings."Israel has rebuffed calls to unseal the border - the latest coming from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. He says he's deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The Israeli defence minister says he's "sensitive" to the needs of Gazans but until Hamas ensures calm along the border - reining in militants firing rockets at Israel - crossings will stay shut, like they've mostly been for the past two weeks. Susan Flory, Reuters
