GAZA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and international efforts succeeded in defusing tension in the Gaza Strip as part of previous calm understandings reached with Israel, a senior official of Islamic Hamas movement from Gaza said early Friday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that it was agreed that fuel supplies would be resumed for the sole power station in Gaza. Israel decided two days ago to stop shipping fuel to the enclave.
The Israeli decision to ban fuel to Gaza was a response to barrages of arson balloons released from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, causing large fires and agricultural loss.
The official also said that Israel agreed to expand the fishing area off the Gaza Strip coast to 15 nautical miles (28 km) after imposing a naval blockade on the enclave, and release dozens of fishing boats that Israel had confiscated over the past few years.
The agreement was made few hours before Palestinians join the weekly anti-Israel rallies and protests that have been going on in eastern Gaza Strip since March 30 last year, known as the "Great March of Return."
The agreement also requires Israel not to directly open live ammunition and gunfire at Palestinian demonstrators who join the weekly rallies at the border, the official said.
Israeli reports said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the agreement, on condition that there is no arson balloons released from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.
Senior Hamas leaders had earlier warned that the calm understandings, brokered by Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar "are in danger" after Israel delayed the implementation of the agreement.
