For the first time in 5 years, Israel allows construction material to enter the blockaded Gaza strip to allow some rebuilding of fixtures devastated by its previous bombing of Palestinian land Israeli authorities have allowed a batch of construction material comprised of 35 cement and steel trucks to enter the Gaza strip for the first time in 5 years. The material passed through the Karam Abu Salem crossing and is to be used in 10 factories destroyed following the Israeli invasion of Gaza in 2008. Previously, only material used for building by international aid organisations was allowed in the besieged Strip. Raed Fetouh, member of the committee coordinating entry of goods to Gaza, said that Israel allowed the entry of 280 trucks loaded with commercial and agricultural equipment and aid, including the aforementioned 35. A Gazan delegation of private sector representatives had previously met with Israeli crossings officials at the Beit Hanon crossing in Northern Gaza and presented them with a set of demands concerning the easing of obstacles to entry of goods effecting the private sector in Gaza. Secretary of the coordination committee for the private sector Ma'moun Abu Shahla said Tuesday that the delegation focused on its demand to remove commercial barriers imposed by Israel for 5 years. The delegation discussed the continuing occupation practice of preventing exports from different sectors, barring production equipment from entering and putting restrictions on freedom of movement of Palestinians in and out of the strip, said Abu Shahla, adding that he felt the Israeli side would be responsive. Ali al-Hayek, head of the Palestinian Industrial Federation director of the Palestinian Businessmen Association, said that the meeting lasted for approximately four hours, wherein the delegation stressed to the Israeli side the negative implications of the continuing blockade on Gaza on more than 1.5 million Palestinians who live there.
