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Israel eases some restrictions on the Gaza Strip

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3 years ago

September 1, 2021

Olu Emmanuel

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Israel has eased some restrictions on the Gaza Strip, officials said on Wednesday.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in a statement that the fishing zone in the Gaza Strip was to be expanded to 15 nautical miles.

COGAT is a unit in the Israeli Ministry of Defense that engages in coordinating civilian issues in the Palestinian Territories.

Fishing is an important source of food and an engine of economic growth for the Gaza population. Around two million people live in the coastal area.

Israel also agreed to completely open the Shalom Crossing for the passage of equipment and goods, and increase water supply to Gaza Strip by additional five million cubic metres.

The ease of restrictions also included raising the number of merchants from Gaza passing through the Erez Crossing from 5,000 to 7,000.

Permits would be issued only to those already vaccinated against, or recovered from COVID-19, the statement added.

The measures would take effect starting on Wednesday.

Israel had tightened a blockade of the Gaza Strip since 2007.