Israel loosens restrictions on trade, travel from Gaza
Israel is reopening the Erez pedestrian crossing to merchants and businesspeople after closing over coronavirus concerns last year.
For the first time in more than a year, Israel will allow 1,350 Palestinians merchants and businesspeople to enter from the Gaza Strip, the military said Friday, citing the relative calm observed along the border region.
Beginning Sunday, “1,000 merchants and 350 senior Gazan businesspeople” will be allowed into Israel “in light of the preservation of security stability,” said COGAT, the branch of the Israeli defense ministry that handles civil affairs in the Palestinian territories .
Permits will only be given to Palestinians who are fully vaccinated or who have recovered from the virus, COGAT said. The Gazans will enter through the Erez pedestrian crossing, which Israel closed amid the coronavirus outbreak some 18 months ago.
COGAT added that Israel will expand trade through the Kerem Shalom’s commercial border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, allowing equipment and goods needed for the impoverished enclave’s humanitarian infrastructure, such as water and sewage. Imports from Israel will be expanded to include transportation and communication materials.
