Number of goods going in and out Israeli-blockaded Gaza falls in October

The number of goods entering and exiting the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip fell in October, according to figures published by the United Nations.

Only 114 truckloads of goods exited the Gaza Strip during October, a 30 per cent decrease compared to the monthly average since the beginning of 2016, and just 15 per cent of 2005 levels.

Meanwhile, the number of truckloads entering Gaza dropped by 24 per cent compared to 2016’s monthly average, the second lowest monthly total of the year.

At the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, the overall number of journeys was 45 per cent below the monthly average recorded since the beginning of 2016 and the lowest since December 2014.

Israeli authorities approved 309 out of 455 permit applications for business people, including permit renewals, while the denial rate for national UN staff from Gaza stood at 52 per cent in October.

In addition, according to the World Health Organisation, the approval rate for medical referrals in October stood at 44 per cent, the lowest such rate since April 2009.