GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – A Hamas official says his government is moving to persuade Gaza gas station owners to distribute fuel supplied by Israel.

The official, Taher Nunu, says Egypt has been urging the Islamic Hamas to intervene in the gas station owners’ strike that has left Gaza without fuel for cars and other vehicles. Last week U.N. food aid was stopped because there was no fuel for U.N. vehicles.

Israel has restricted supplies to Gaza since the Hamas takeover last June. But Israel insists there are large quantities of fuel sitting at the border depot. Israel charges Hamas with creating an artificial crisis.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Nunu said Hamas accepted a request from Egypt and will try to end the monthlong gas station strike.