Israel will
allow cement into the Gaza Strip later Wednesday for the first time in a year as crossings with the Palestinian territory are reopened in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with
Hamas,
an Israeli spokesman said.
Four crossings between Israel and Gaza reopened on schedule Wednesday, Israel and the Hamas rulers of Gaza said. Since a truce began June 19, Israel has closed the passages a total of six days in retaliation for the firing of rockets.
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"After evaluating the situation where we had a couple of days where rockets were fired, no rockets were fired yesterday and this has enabled us to reopen the crossings," Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The crossings had last been closed on Tuesday, after Israel said two rockets hit Israel on Monday. Hamas denies that those rockets were fired. The Hamas Interior Ministry said Wednesday that Israel will allow in fuel, wheat and animal feed, in addition to five trucks of dry cement. About 26 sick Palestinians will also enter Israel to receive treatment, the ministry said.
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza a year ago, allowing in only humanitarian aide, after the Islamic Hamas overran Gaza. The closure has caused shortages in everything from electricity to shoes and gasoline.
With no cement allowed in, all construction had been ceased and Palestinians in the building industry were on Wednesday greatly anticipating the entrance of cement.
Lerner and Hamas said five trucks of cement would enter Gaza later Wednesday.
An Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip would also be opened Wednesday to allow sick Palestinians to seek treatment abroad and Arab travelers to enter the territory, Hamas official Ayman Taha said.
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