Palestinians shop on black market for fuel
Palestinians are forced to shop on the black market to meet their fuel requirements.
The Islamist movement Hamas, which seized control of the territory last June, set up a fuel rationing system last month in a bid to cope with the shortages and, some say, to fill its own coffers.
In order to get fuel legally, car owners must register their vehicles with the Hamas-run authorities and pay an annual fee of 1,500 shekels (460 dollars) just for the ration cards. The fuel itself is extra.
Quantities are strictly limited: 20 litres (5.3 gallons) of diesel every two weeks for private vehicles, 30 litres (7.9 gallons) per week for commercial vehicles and 40 litres (10.5 gallons) a week for taxis.
Bus driver Yasser Abu Atta shakes his head as he looks at the card that will entitle him to buy 30 litres of diesel.
“It’s barely enough for two days,” he grumbles.
If he needs more fuel, he’ll have to turn to the black market, which is thriving thanks to the short supplies.
Diesel sells for 2.06 dollars (1.33 euros) a litre at the pump but six dollars (3.89 euros) on the black market. A litre of petrol that sells for 2.56 dollars (1.66 euros) at the pump can cost as much as 10.28 dollars (6.63 euros).
Smugglers bring fuel in through tunnels dug under the border with Egypt and more than a few cash-strapped individuals resell their rations for a small fortune.
“People don’t have a choice; they need to get around. So they buy from the black market,” says Yasser.
