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Libya Central Bank Governor: Oil Blockade is ‘Bullet in the Head’

FILE PHOTO: Members of forces loyal to Haftar guard near Libya's El Sharara oilfield in Obari,Libya, February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
FILE PHOTO: Members of forces loyal to Haftar guard near Libya's El Sharara oilfield in Obari,Libya, February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
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Libya Central Bank Governor: Oil Blockade is ‘Bullet in the Head’

FILE PHOTO: Members of forces loyal to Haftar guard near Libya's El Sharara oilfield in Obari,Libya, February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer
FILE PHOTO: Members of forces loyal to Haftar guard near Libya's El Sharara oilfield in Obari,Libya, February 6, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer

A blockade of major Libyan oil ports is damaging the economy and must be quickly resolved, the Tripoli-based central bank governor told Reuters on Friday.

"Now oil represents 93-95 percent of total revenue and covers 70 percent of total spending. This is a bullet in the head, that will hurt Libya and the Libyan people," Sadiq al-Kabir said in an interview in London. "We really hope the crisis is resolved as fast as possible because it hurts everyone."

The head of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj, has warned of catastrophe if the week-long blockade by the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar, which has cut oil output to almost zero, is not lifted.

Previously, oil production was 1.2 million barrels a day.

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Israel Frees a Gaza Medic Detained Since Troops Killed 15 Rescue Workers

Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
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Israel Frees a Gaza Medic Detained Since Troops Killed 15 Rescue Workers

Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Palestinians check the damage on an ambulance after a convoy of ambulances was hit, at the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, November 3, 2023. (Reuters)

Israel released a Palestinian medic who has been held prisoner since soldiers killed 15 of his colleagues last month and buried them in a mass grave in southern Gaza. He's one of 10 detainees released back to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Prisoners released by Israel have said they were ordered by Israel not to speak to the media and fear for their safety, The AP news reported.

Meanwhile, south Africa, a staunch critic of Israel, presents its arguments to the United Nation’s International Court of Justice on Tuesday for a second day of hearings about Israel’s legal responsibilities to ensure humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, where the aid system is nearing collapse. Israel’s total blockade of Gaza — now in its second month — has cut off all food, fuel, medicine or any other supplies.

Israel is marking its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks.

Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, of which around two dozen hostages are still believed to be alive.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry.