Israeli cabinet discusses Gaza blockade

ISRAEL’S security cabinet met yesterday to consider easing a Gaza blockade following an international outcry over a deadly raid on an aid flotilla, but adjourned without taking any decisions.

The cabinet will reconvene today to continue discussions on expanding a list of about 100 goods Israel permits through overland crossings into the Gaza Strip, a senior government official said.

Israel’s internal security chief, Yuval Diskin, voiced opposition in a briefing to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday to any lifting of Israel’s naval blockade of the territory, home to 1.5 million Palestinians and run by Hamas.

Israel faces international calls to ease or lift its Gaza embargo following the killing by Israeli commandos of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists during the interception at sea of an aid convoy on May 31.

Israeli leaders said the troops acted in self-defence after being attacked by activists, and that the blockade is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas.