Israel partially lifts blockade to allow goods into Gaza amid human rights concerns

Israel said that it would be easing commercial restrictions on the Gaza Strip and expand entry of goods into the besieged Strip, amid protests that cutting off supplies amounts to human rights abuses.

The announcement came after hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated Wednesday near the Israeli border, calling on Israel to end the blockade days after a similar gathering ended with Israeli forces opening fire on protesters. 

During Saturday protests, one Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces.

The defense ministry body in charge of Israel’s crossings with the Palestinian territory said in a statement late Wednesday that it would increase imports of new vehicles, goods and equipment for civilian projects in the Gaza Strip, and issue more permits for Gazan businessmen to enter Israel starting Thursday.

The easing of restrictions would be “conditional upon the continued preservation of the region’s security,” and could be further expanded if the border situation improves, the body, known as COGAT, said.

Hamas officials said Egypt would also be partially reopening its key border crossing with the Gaza Strip Thursday, after closing it in a bid to persuade Hamas, the Islamic militant group ruling the territory, to reimpose calm.

The protests come three months after an informal truce ended 11 days of an Israeli assault on the besieged enclave.

Hamas authorities said 260 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes during the conflict.

Palestinian groups launched thousands of rockets at Israel during the fighting, killing 13 people, including a soldier, according to the military and police.

In 2018, Gazans began a protest movement demanding an end to Israel's blockade and the right for Palestinians to return to lands they fled or were expelled from when the Jewish state was founded.