Hamas to evaluate Israel's decision to loosen blockade: official

Islamic Hamas movement will observe Israel's recent steps to loosen its blockade on the Gaza Strip and evaluate the mechanism to implement them, a Hamas official said on Tuesday.

"The Israeli decision to ease the siege is unclear yet," Sami Abu Zuhri, a Gaza-based Hamas official, told Xinhua, adding "We will weigh up the relaxation throughout Israel's implementation mechanism."

Israel said Monday it will allow all goods for civilian use to Gaza.

Meanwhile, Abu Zuhri downplayed the Israeli step, saying "after all, the crossing will be under Israel's full control."

Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas movement, labeled as a terror organization by the Jewish state, grabbed hold of the territory violently in 2007.

Israel decided in June to loosen its blockade on the enclave as international criticism mounted following the killing by Israeli forces of nine Turkish activists in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

Source: Xinhua