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Israel allows entry of construction materials into Gaza

August 14, 2018 at 10:40 am

An inside view of a factory near Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom), the commercial border crossing with Israel to the east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, Gaza City, Gaza on 12 July, 2018 [Abed Zagout/Anadolu Agency]

Israel yesterday confirmed that it will allow the entry of 20 truckloads of construction material into the besieged Gaza Strip for the second day in a row.

Hebrew-language news outlets reported that about 20 truckloads of cement and other construction materials will be transported through the Kerm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

Sources added that several trucks also passed through the crossing on Sunday.

READ: Closure of crossings damaging Gaza’s industrial, commercial sectors

Israeli policy often defines basic construction materials such as gravel, steel bars, and cement, along with a wide range of spare parts, computer equipment and vehicles as “dual use” items, restricting their import for “security reasons”, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Such designations as well as the strict blockade have destroyed the economy in the Gaza Strip and have made it near impossible for Gaza’s more than two million residents to recover from three wars over the last six years.