Israel on Thursday decided to open a cargo crossing into Gaza Strip to allow delivery of limited amounts of vital aid, a Palestinian official said.
The limited opening is the fourth in a one-month-old full closure Israel imposed on the Hamas-controlled territory due to a violence flare-up.
"The Israeli side told us that Kerem Shalom crossing would open Thursday before 40 trucks laden with food, aid and medical supplies," said Nasser al-Sarraj, a Palestinian ministry of economy official.
Twenty of the trucks will go for international relief organizations, nine to private companies, five trucks for the ministry of health and two for the ministry of agriculture, according to al-Sarraj.
Four other trucks are laden with purification materials for water utilities.
On Wednesday, Israeli sources said Gaza crossing points would open for humanitarian aid, but it said the move was subject to the security situation on the ground.
Meanwhile, Israel also lifted a four-week-old ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza Strip after press organizations stepped up pressure on the Israeli government to cancel the banning.
Seventeen Palestinian militants and two civilians were killed in Israeli strikes during the ongoing violence which started on Nov. 4.In the meantime, the armed Palestinian groups resumed rocket attacks against Israeli border towns.
The violence and the closure violate the core of a June-ceasefire that Egypt brokered between Hamas and Israel.
Hamas and the rest of the factions have began a series of talks about the future of the six-month ceasefire which ends on Dec. 19.
Source:Xinhua
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