UN relief chief Martin Griffiths has said it is “imperative” that fuel be allowed into the Gaza Strip.

“Let us not try to be clever about it. We need fuel,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera. “I understand that for some fuel can be seen as a ‘dual use commodity’. We have a lot of experience in many parts of the world in many conflicts about the issues of importing so-called dual-use commodities.

“It is certainly central to our current negotiations to work out a system whereby it becomes clear, monitored, transparent and sure the fuel we take in — and we must take it in — will not be used for war, but will be used for those essential elements of peace,” Griffiths added.