Oil prices have jumped on concerns that the situation in Israel and Gaza could disrupt output from the Middle East.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed by $2.25 a barrel to $86.83, while US prices also rose.

Israel and Palestinian territories are not oil producers but the Middle Eastern region accounts for almost a third of global supply.

Hamas’s assault on Israel was the biggest escalation between the two sides for decades.

Western nations condemned the attacks. A spokesperson for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, told the BBC that the group had direct backing for the move from Iran - one of the world’s largest oil producers.

  • ToroidalX@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I can’t believe these companies can increase prices as if nothing. Like, it’s not even near their production sites, yet they try to profit from every single event. It’s so scummy

    • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      They don’t. The oil price is set in the futures market. The threat of a widening conflict could affect production so the futures price is increasing as a result of that possibility.