Israel lifts part of Gaza goods ban

Israel today lifted some of its bans on food into the Gaza Strip after widespread international criticism of its three-year-old blockade.

A Palestinian spokesman said soft drinks, juice, jam, spices, shaving cream, crisps, biscuits and sweets will now be allowed through.

Israel imposed the blockade after militant Hamas seized control of Gaza and has been under pressure to ease it following the deadly clash last week with pro-Palestinian activists on board the flotilla trying to breach it.

Israeli officials said the move was meant to defuse pressure for an international investigation of the raid.

The decision only narrowly expands the list of goods that can enter Gaza - and most of the newly permitted items are already being smuggled into the area from neighbouring Egypt.

It also does not include the most-sought items, such as cement, steel and other materials needed to rebuild the war-devastated strip.

But it is the first tangible step by Israel to temper the uproar caused by the raid.

However the gesture was unlikely to blunt the international criticism which has centred on the ban on raw materials and some fuels from entering Gaza, and the arbitrary nature of some of the banned items. Israel had barred things like potato crisps while permitting items like diet yoghurt and herbal tea.

Turkey has led the international criticism of Israel’s policies in Gaza. The nine activists killed last week included eight Turks and a Turkish American.

Murat Mercan, head of the foreign relations committee in the Turkish parliament, said Israel’s gesture was insufficient.

“Even if they lift the blockade on all food items, it would still not be satisfactory in any way,” he said.

“To live like humans, these people need food, medicine, construction material. The children need pens and notebooks.”

“Although there is no reason to be hopeful given the past experience, we still try to be cautiously hopeful” about an eventual end to the blockade, he said.