Claims about trade concessions with Gaza are "a publicity stunt"

A claim by Israel that it has granted a series of trade concessions with Gaza as a gesture of goodwill for the month of Ramadan has been played down by the Public Relations Officer of the besieged territory’s Chamber of Commerce.

According to Dr. Maher Aldaba, the claim is “a publicity stunt that does very little to make a real difference on the ground”. He explained that Israel has simply granted permission to fifty merchants from the Gaza Strip to travel to Israel in order to introduce more goods into the territory. This is not a new procedure, said Dr. Aldaba. “The Israeli authorities have been granting such permits for two months based on specific criteria set by themselves,” he added. “No new amendments have been made.”

Israel announced on Wednesday 11th August that not only was it granting the fifty permits to mark Ramadan, but also that it was increasing the quantities of goods it was going to allow in to Gaza. Between 240 and 250 trucks enter the Gaza Strip daily through the commercial crossing at Karam Abu Salem, east of Rafah in the south of the Strip. Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, for more than three years.