Trucks with building materials enter Gaza from Israel
Transfer of materials carried out under supervision of UN representatives in cooperation with PA officials; next phase includes export of agricultural produce from Gaza to West Bank
The office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that the shipment of the materials is to include 600 tons of cement, 50 truckloads of aggregates and 10 truckloads of iron.
The transfer of the supplies was carried out in accordance with an oversight mechanism that will be implemented by UN representatives, in cooperation with Palestinian Authority officials, as was agreed to by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the West Bank, Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai.
It was further reported that the mechanism is designed to ensure that the construction activities will concentrate on the renovation of homes and public buildings for the benefit of residents of the Gaza Strip, while maintaining the security of the State of Israel.
The oversight mechanism includes a detailed plan of the construction input, professionals to whom the building materials will be transferred, as well as monitoring and UN control teams which will supervise the construction on the scene.
The announcement from the COGAT wrote that "in addition to a series of civilian-economic steps already taken to assist the population of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, agricultural produce from the Gaza Strip will be exported from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.
"In the first stage, 15 tons of agricultural produce will be exported, including mostly dates and sweet potatoes. Over time, other types of agricultural produce will be exported, including fishing products," the statement said.
Earlier Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lamented the vast destruction in Gaza as he visited the area on Tuesday for the first time since the war, calling the situation "beyond description" and urging a speedy reconstruction effort.
“I’m very happy to announce that the first truck carrying… construction materials is coming to Gaza today (Tuesday),” he said.
