Israel on Wednesday allowed limited shipments of cooking gas into Gaza for the first time since two weeks, Palestinian officials said.

Mahmoud al-Khozendar, deputy director of the petrol stations owners' union in Gaza, said the amount of cooking gas is insufficient so the people would only be able to get half the amount they need.

To overcome the crisis, al-Khozendar said, Israel must allow 10,000 tonnes of gas into Gaza in one week.

The deliveries of cooking gas came as Israel opened its commercial crossing points for the movement of aid convoys and petrol into the Hamas-controlled territory.

450 liters of industrial diesel, needed for power plant in Gaza which is working on half-capacity, are scheduled to be shipped to the only power station.

Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007 after Hamas took over security installations there.

The easing of the movement of aid and petrol into Gaza comes as Egypt intensifies its efforts to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Israel launched a 22-day large-scale offensive in Gaza which ended in January, killing more than 1,300 Palestinians and destroying most of the buildings run by Hamas administration.