Israel Eases Gaza Closure, but Restrictions Remain

The banned items include weapons and "dual use" goods Israel fears might be diverted by Gaza militants for military purposes, such as fertilizers, gas tanks, drilling equipment and water disinfectant.

Construction materials such as cement, steel cables and concrete blocks will be permitted into Gaza only for projects supervised by international aid agencies. The internationally funded construction of schools, sewage treatment plants and housing projects in Gaza has largely been on hold since 2006, but Israeli officials promised to work quickly now to deliver the supplies.

Aid groups estimate than Gaza needs another 86,000 housing units — mostly to account for population growth, but also to replace thousands of apartments that were destroyed during last year's Gaza war and previous Israeli military offensives.

Israel has made a serious effort to make a "very clear distinction between the security needs of Israel, that we are committed to keep, and everything else," said Yossi Gal, director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry.

However, Sari Bashi of the Israeli human rights group Gisha said the benefit to Gaza will be limited.

"Gaza residents can now purchase Israeli-made products, but they are still prevented from engaging in dignified, productive work and from traveling," she said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed Israel's new policy was "worthless," demanding that the blockade be lifted entirely.

Gaza, a strip of land 6 miles wide and 25 miles long and populated by 1.5 million Palestinians, has been occupied by Israelis since the 1967 Mideast war. Israel withdrew from the territory in 2005, almost two years before the Hamas takeover. Israel closely regulates what goes in and out in an effort to weaken the group and prevent it from receiving weapons and explosives.

All goods will be funneled through Kerem Shalom, Israel's main cargo crossing into Gaza, and Israel does not plan to reopen additional passages it used before the blockade. Kerem Shalom consists of three paved lots, each ringed by walls of cement slabs, as well as one opening to the Israeli side and another to the Gaza side.

In the morning, Israeli trucks unload the goods in the paved areas, then withdraw back to Israel. Once the Israelis have cleared out, Palestinian truckers arrive from the Gaza side to pick up the merchandise. Israel instituted the measures as a result of attacks by Palestinian militants on the crossing.