UN: Israeli materials shipment to Gaza well below needs

Ma'an
A rumored promise of increased construction supplies to be permitted into Gaza has so far consisted of half a truckload of cement, UN officials announced on Friday.

Israel's Hebrew Language daily newspaper Ma’ariv published a report Friday morning saying iron, cement and other raw construction materials would be permitted into Gaza next week.

Palestinian liaison officials, however, said on Sunday they had not been informed of any changes to goods permitted into the Strip.

The reports resurfaced Saturday in Israel's Jerusalem Post, which said the move, okayed by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, was a "goodwill" gesture to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.....

However, the subsequent UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Weekly Protection of Civilians report said that during the week “UNRWA received a shipment of 25 tonnes of cement (half a truckload) via Kerem Shalom for the construction/ upgrading of a UN pumping station in southern Gaza.”

The report continued: “The imported cement, however, represents only a small portion of the construction materials needed to complete a number of other UN projects, which are pending due to the lack of construction materials.”....  Full story