UN welcomes Israeli decision to ease Gaza land blockade

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) -- Israel on Thursday decided to ease the land blockade of Gaza in wake of a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound ship that was said to be carrying aid, a decision welcomed by the United Nations.

Israel's security cabinet announced the decision in a statement through the Prime Minister's Office. It follows two days of extensive discussions over adjusting Israel's Gaza policy.

"It was agreed to liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza [and] expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision," the statement said. It further said to continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war material.

The Cabinet is expected to decide in the coming days on additional steps to implement the new policy.

The statement further said that Israel expects the international community to work toward the immediate release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border raid.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the Israeli decision. "The Secretary-General is encouraged that the Israeli Government is reviewing its policy towards Gaza, and he hopes that today's decision by the Israeli security cabinet is a real step towards meeting needs in Gaza," said Martin Nesirky, Ban's spokesman.

Nesirky said Ban asked his envoy, Robert Serry, to immediately engage the Israeli government to learn more about the decision and the additional measures and steps of implementation still required. "The United Nations continues to seek a fundamental change in policy as agreed by the Quartet, so that humanitarian assistance, commercial goods and people are able to flow through functioning open crossings, and so that reconstruction can take place," Nesirky said.

Israel has faced mounting international calls to ease or lift its Gaza blockade following the raid of a Gaza-bound ship, said to be carrying aid. Nine people were killed during the raid, which was aimed to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas. Israel said the troops acted in self-defense.

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