Israel and Egypt ease blockade of Gaza
09 June 2010
Israel has relaxed the blockade of the Gaza Strip to permit more provisions into the area. Officials said the list of items allowed into the Gaza Strip has been expanded to include goods from soda drinks to shaving cream and spices. There has been international pressure for Israel to lift the blockade following the raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying supplies. The blockade has been in place since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007.
Egypt – which also had closed its border with Gaza – reopened it last week and said it would remain open for the time being. Since then, around 5,000 Gazans have crossed into Egypt. People with documents granting them entry into Egypt or other Arab countries have been allowed to leave the coastal enclave, while Palestinian patients who had received medical treatment in Egypt were allowed to return to Gaza.
Egypt has occasionally opened its border with the enclave for three or four-day periods. This is the first time that the border has been opened for an indefinite period of time.
» Israel intercepts Gaza aid ship peacefully as more flotillas are being chartered
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Stanley Finkelstein, about 1 year ago
I have some concerns about relaxing the border based on inspection of the recent flotilla ship. Apparently, there was nothing found on the largest ship only thugs. On other ships, their cargo consisted of hastily loaded and strewn contents. I also understand that the medicine was outdated and not climate controlled.
What should the Israeli's let in is up to them. But the basis for easing the blockade based on what was found on the ships is bogus.
The UN needs to be more responsive to the issues rather than condemn Israel without an in depth investigation in advance of punishing the "guilty" party.