BICOM

Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon has reportedly agreed to permit the entry of building materials into the Gaza Strip, for projects under the auspices of international organisations.

Three months ago, Israel eased restrictions on building materials for the Gaza private sector; they had been in place for fear that they would be used by Hamas to strengthen its military capability. However, these were soon frozen following the discovery of an advanced 1.7km tunnel which traversed underneath the border with Israel and which Hamas admitted was primed to launch a terror attack.

Maariv reports that Ya’alon has agreed to loosen the restrictions following consultation with Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, who warned of a possible “humanitarian crisis in Gaza.” Dangot recently briefed European diplomats in Brussels and explained that the belligerent relationship between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and Egypt, was largely responsible for severe fuel and power shortages in Gaza. Dangot is quoted as saying, “Egypt views Hamas as the enemy.” Egypt’s military rulers have closed numerous smuggling tunnels from Gaza into Egypt in recent months, accusing Hamas of helping Islamist terror groups attack the Egyptian military in Sinai.

Dangot added that although Israel is “working with the Palestinian Authority (PA) to solve the problem” of Gaza’s power shortage, Hamas “doesn’t want to accept the PA’s authority.” At the same time, the PA which purchases fuel from Israel is apparently refusing to sell it to Gaza as Hamas will not pay for it.

With many Gazans employed in construction, Haaretz says Ya’alon agreed to permit the entry of building materials for international projects following a conversation with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Maariv added that Ya’alon requested the establishment by UN officials of a special mechanism which would ensure that the materials in question do not fall into the hands of Hamas or other terror organisations.