One month after the ceasefire ceased its 11-day offensive on the Gaza Strip, Israel used so-called “conditional” measures to allow limited resumption of commercial exports from the besieged Gaza Strip.

COGAT, a subsidiary of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, stated: “After conducting a security assessment, for the first time since (the fighting) ended, a decision was made to allow… (restrict) agricultural exports from the Gaza Strip.” On Monday.

COGAT stated that the measure was approved by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government and was “conditional on the maintenance of security and stability.”

A Palestinian official who requested anonymity because he did not have the right to talk to the media said that 11 trucks of clothing were exported through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) border crossing for the first time in 40 days. On Sunday, Israel said it would allow limited agricultural exports from Gaza.

According to Saleh Zeke, an official of the Palestine Authority Liaison Committee, the easing policy also includes the restoration of mail services in and out of Gaza. Thousands of passports and paperwork have been postponed since the fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian organization that rules Gaza, on May 10.

However, other Israeli restrictions still exist and affect different sectors of Gaza.

On Monday, a Pepsi-Cola bottling plant said it would close and lay off 250 employees because the raw materials needed to maintain the business were removed. Instead, the company will import ready-made products from its factory in the occupied West Bank.

“Raw materials are not allowed. We have been waiting for 60 days,” said Hammam Alyazji, plant development manager. Raw materials include carbon dioxide and syrup.

Nezzar Ayyash of the Fishermen’s Union stated that the resumption of exports does not include fish. He said Israel has cut its catch by more than half and kept it at 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers) instead of the 20 miles (37 kilometers) agreed in the Oslo Agreement.

“This is very detrimental to the livelihoods of fishermen; the purchasing power of Gaza is so low that fishermen can hardly cover their fuel costs,” he said.

Other restrictions include limiting the number of medical patients who can be treated in Israel or the occupied West Bank.

On June 21, 2021, Yahya Sinwar, head of the political department of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, addressed reporters at a press conference in Gaza City. [Mohammed Abed/ AFP]

“No intention to solve the humanitarian crisis”

After meeting with the UN mediator, Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar said that Israel’s relaxation of restrictions is not enough, nor has it changed the situation in Gaza, and pointed out that Israel continues to block international aid and the delivery of key fuel power plants. goods.

“The meeting was terrible and not positive at all,” he told reporters.

“They listened carefully to our opinions, but there is no indication of any intention to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” Sinwar added.

He added that Israel is “blackmailing” Hamas in exchange for further lifting of restrictions.

Sinwar clearly refers to Israel’s position that Gaza’s major improvement depends on Hamas’ release of the bodies of two Israelis and two soldiers captured by it. Sinwar said that he told the UN regional envoy Torvinesland that Hamas “will not accept this.”

Based on the threat of Hamas, Israel maintains strict control over Gaza border crossings with the support of neighboring Egypt. Israel intensified restrictions during the fighting in May, effectively halting all exports.

Sinwar also accused Israel of refusing assistance from Qatar, which has funded hundreds of millions of dollars in reconstruction projects in Gaza in recent years.

“It seems that Occupation (Israel) does not understand our message. We may need to conduct popular resistance to put pressure on the occupation,” Sinwar said.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett did not comment on Sinwar’s remarks.

At a memorial service for Israeli soldiers who died in the 2014 Gaza War on Sunday, Bennett, who was sworn in last week and succeeded as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Israel will not tolerate any hostile actions. restore.

“(We) will not even tolerate a few rockets. We will not show tolerance or containment to divided factions,” he said, alluding to past attacks by armed groups other than Hamas.

“Our patience has been exhausted.”

Last week, Egypt and the United Nations stepped up mediation after Israel’s air strikes on the Gaza Strip challenged the fragile ceasefire agreement.

The war killed 257 Palestinians, including 66 children. 13 people were killed in Israel, including two children.