Panic at the pump - Ramallah motorists race to secure petrol as US-Iran tensions explode

"Long queues formed at petrol stations across Ramallah on Saturday as residents rushed to secure fuel following Israeli and US military strikes on Iran, amid fears the regional escalation could disrupt supplies across the occupied West Bank. Footage shows lines of vehicles stretching along roads near fuel stations, as drivers waited hours to fill their tanks. “There's a huge crisis. I went out this morning and couldn't fill my car because of the crowds. It takes three hours in line to get some diesel, but under normal circumstances, diesel should be readily available, and there are supposedly reserve stocks, according to the station owners,” one car owner said. "There's an exaggeration of the fear. There's no shortage of diesel yet, but when people heard about the war, they were afraid of running out of diesel, gasoline, and cooking gas, so they rushed to buy them. When you go to the stores, there's no space. People are scared because of the events, even though there are still good quantities available,” he added. The Palestinian Ministry of Economy warned that panic buying risked destabilising supply chains, urging residents to remain calm. The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, and Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US military assets across the region. Donald Trump confirmed 'major combat operations' in Iran in a video posted on his Truth Social: "To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity - or in the alternative, face certain death." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a joint operation to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran". He later called on the Iranian people to 'take their fate into their own hands'. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said that 'widespread missile and drone attacks' against Israel were underway. US bases were reportedly targeted in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait. Iran's Foreign Ministry stated: "History bears witness that Iranians have never bowed their heads in submission to foreign aggression". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added: "Netanyahu and Trump's war on Iran is wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate". Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who mediated the latest talks between the US and Iran, stated: "I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war." The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement: "Iran must halt its nuclear programme. We did not take part in the strikes, but we are in contact with our allies". Emmanuel Macron added: the ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop". Russia, China, France, Bahrain and Colombia called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for Saturday night. It comes following three rounds of talks between the Iranian and American sides, one in Muscat and two in Geneva in recent weeks. "