BICOM

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz conducted a series of media interviews ahead of Yom Kippur and emphasised that everyday life must be improved in Gaza.

Speaking to Haaretz, Gantz said that the 50 day Operation Protective Edge this summer “holds the potential for many years of quiet if we conduct ourselves wisely.” He explained that Hamas “has lost assets, tunnels, rockets.” However, ensuring quiet said Gantz also includes taking steps to improve Gaza’s economy. He explained, “We need to permit the opening of the Strip to goods. In the end, there are 1.8 million people there, with Israel and Egypt surrounding them. These people need to live.” Ultimately, said Gantz, hope rather than despair “in my view is the key to success.”

Reiterating the point in an interview with Yediot Ahronot, Gantz called for a series of “carrots” to induce quiet. As an example, he said that the arrangement last month to bring more goods into Gaza, agreed between Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the United Nations, by-passing the authority of Hamas, should continue in a “sane manner.”

On Wednesday, Israel announced a relaxation of restrictions on Palestinian movement between Gaza and the West Bank, to coincide with the Eid al-Ahda holiday, which begins this weekend. 500 Palestinians from Gaza aged 60 and over will be permitted to pray at the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and 500 will be able to visit close relatives in the West Bank. Palestinians in the West Bank will be allowed unlimited travel into Israel for sightseeing and family visits from Sunday until Tuesday. The IDF said that the relaxed measures are intended to “improve the fabric of life for Palestinian society.”

However, for the first time in 33 years, Eid al-Ahda coincides with the solemn Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Israeli authorities fear that tensions could erupt, especially in mixed Jewish-Arab areas. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld commented, “police officers have met with leaders in different communities to coordinate.”