This week was fraught with accusations by Hamas officials who said both Egypt and the Palestinian Authority were responsible for the fuel crisis in Gaza. Over the past two days, Palestinian officials managed to agree with Israel to allow over 450,000 liters of fuel from Egypt into Gaza to be sent to the power station.

According to Nathmi Mhanna, a PA border official in Gaza, Israel agreed to let the fuel tankers cross the Kerem Shalom crossing [Karem Abu Salem] after intervention by Palestinian and Egyptian officials on March 22.

Ahmad Abu al-Amarin, a spokesman for the energy authority said however, that the shipment would only get the plant up and running for one day. On March 24, a PA delegation traveled to Egypt to discuss ways of solving the fuel problem in Gaza by make the arrangements of the last two days “permanent”.

This has not stopped Hamas from hurling accusations against the PA, though. In a demonstration on March 23, senior Hamas leader Mushir Al Masri told the crowd that “the PA is an ally of the occupation as it makes agreements with Israel and arranges security coordination with the government.” The demonstrators were out in the street to protest the fuel crisis in Gaza.

"The PA announced it is an ally of the enemy and created the fuel crisis after it coordinated with the donors to transfer the salaries of its employees who are sitting at home," Masri said, pointing a finger directly at President Abbas. "Abbas, the PA, and the Arab security leadership are plotting against Gaza and creating the crisis in the Strip," he said.

He did however, hold Israel full responsibility for the "suffering of the Palestinian people,” in the end. "The occupation is the problem in the region and the world won’t settle until the occupation is gone," Masri said.

The Hamas statements were viewed as a “low blow” by the Authority and many Palestinians who believe Hamas is the party holding up the completion of the reconciliation deal and consequently is largely to blame for the fuel crisis. Presidential advisor Nimer Hammad called Masri’s remarks “rude and poisonous” on March 24, saying they could further impede reconciliation efforts.

Meanwhile Palestinians scored a diplomatic victory on March 22 when the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva voted in favor of launching an international investigation into Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories. The United States was alone in voting against the initiative proposed by the Palestinian Authority.

The 47-member Council adopted the resolution by a vote of 36 states in favor, with one against – the United States. Ten abstained, including Italy and Spain. According to presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the investigation “will send Israel a message from the international community that settlements are illegal and must be stopped.”

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was quick to dismiss the UNHRC, calling it "hypocritical" and having an "automatic majority against Israel". A source from Netanyahu's office said Israel would not cooperate with the investigation, adding that Israel did not want to give it legitimacy.

The Council's resolution also called on Israel to take serious measures to prevent settler violence "including confiscation of arms and enforcement of criminal sanctions", and protection of Palestinian civilians and property in the territories.

A day earlier, on March 21 at the donor conference in Brussels chair of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee on Palestine, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, urged donors to pledge $1 billion to fill the PA's budget deficit, which they promised to do. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad thanked the donor countries but urged them to transfer the money quickly so that the PA could function properly and ease the financial crisis.

Just ahead of the meeting, the World Bank said in a report that the Palestinian Authority had received just over half of the funds it needs, urging donor countries to commit to their pledges.

On March 23, the United States Congress said it would release US aid to the Palestinians frozen since August. While Republican representative Kay Granger announced she was ready for the entire $147 million to be released, another Republican. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, limited the release to $88.6 million, saying that was “all she was willing to free up.”

"I have taken a strong position on aid to the PA to send a message that seeking statehood at the United Nations, forming a unity government with Hamas and walking away from the negotiating table with Israel were not pathways to peace," Granger said in a statement. "Right now it is in our interest - and the interest of our allies in the region - to allow aid to flow to address security and humanitarian concerns."

The United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund have all submitted reports, however, recognizing the Palestinian Authority’s achievements in the economy and development sectors.

"These reports also unanimously agree that the Israeli occupation and its illegal punishing measures is the single most important obstacle to Palestinian economic prosperity and stability," said PLO executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi. "The goals driving international assistance will only be possible when this occupation ends."

This does not seem to be Israel’s goal however, especially in east Jerusalem. On March 20, the Israeli planning and construction committee revealed a plan to confiscate 1,235 dunams of land from the Walaja village south of Jerusalem for the establishment of a so-called national park. According to the plan, the area will changed into a park of pedestrian walkways, bike paths, a tourist center and a restaurant built near the Walaja spring.

In other news, on March 19, hunger striker, prisoner Hana’ Shalabi was transferred to hospital after her health deteriorated severely. She is now in the Ramleh Prison hospital and has entered her 38th day of strike. According to her lawyer, Prisoners’ Society attorney Jawad Bulous on March 22, Shalabi’s condition is critical, adding that she cannot stand up, her heart rate is fast and blood sugar levels are low but refuses to give up her strike until her demands are met. Shalabi also sent a message to former hunger striker Khader Adnan, thanking him for “showing us the path we have now taken.” Popular activities in solidarity with Shalabi have been taking place throughout the week, including protests in front of the Ofer Prison and military court.

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad condemned on March 21 the killing of three children and a rabbi at a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, rejecting the suspected gunman's motive of avenging Palestinian children killed by Israel.

"This terrorist crime is condemned in the strongest terms by the Palestinian people and our children ... No Palestinian child can accept crimes against innocent people," Fayyad said in a statement. The suspect Mohamed Merah, 24, claimed to belong to al-Qaida, and to want revenge for Palestinian children.

Following the shooting, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton caused an outrage in Israel when she mentioned the Toulouse shooting along with other deaths of children in the world, including those in Gaza, during a meeting on Palestinian refugee youths in Brussels on March 20.

“What gets me especially incensed is the comparison between the targeted slaughter of children and the surgical, defensive activities of the (Israel Defense Forces) that are meant to hit terrorists who use children for human shields,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters.

Ashton later denied that she had drawn any comparison and added ‘Sderot’ to her amended statement to include the southern Israeli town which is often targeted by Palestinian rockets.

Finally, Israel warned neighboring countries on March 23 of any marchers approaching its borders on the 30th as part of the International March to Jerusalem. The march, which coincides with Land Day, will include representative from 700 organizations from 64 countries and will reach “the closest possible” point towards Jerusalem. Israel has said it would consider anyone near the border as infiltrators and act ‘firmly’ against them.