Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided not to resume fuel shipments to the Gaza Strip today because of continued rocket fire, Israeli defense officials said Monday, and Gaza officials threatened to shut down the coastal territory’s only power plant.

According to the AP, Israel cut off the shipments last week and closed Gaza Strip’s border crossings in response to a wave of Palestinian rocket attacks, which came after an Israeli raid into Gaza and a fierce gunbattle between army troops and Hamas forces.

The Israeli officials said fuel shipments could resume Tuesday if no more rockets are fired.

The Israeli closure has also kept journalists from entering the coastal territory for five days, drawing a protest from Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association. The FPA, which represents foreign reporters in Israel and the Palestinian territories, called the Israeli move "a serious violation of press freedom."

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