the United States administration and the Secretary-General of the United Nations call upon Hamas to (a) repatriate Gilad Shalit; (b) repudiate its vile charter calling for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination of the Jewish people; and (c) recognize the inalienable right of the State of the Israel to exist in its ancient homeland ... ... and why should Israel do anything for Gaza until they do?

Maybe my Israeli brothers aren't familiar with the saying, "Give them an inch, and they'll take a foot!" What triggered this "easing" of the blockade anyway? If it was the events on the open seas the last few weeks, then our enemies (all 70 of them on the boat) defeated us!

Bless them that give their Lives for Good Deeds.

I THINK THIS ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, IS EVEN AN BIGGER FOOL AND IDIOT, THAN THE UNEXPPERIENCED OBAMAS. THE ISRAELI RIGHTISTS CONDUCTING THE POLICY OF THE US LEFTISTS. GOD BEVERE. Arn.

Israel was duped again; this time initiated by the Turks, and joined by the rest of the World. Now Israel is reviewing their blockade of Gaza. As Kissinger said many years ago, when the US detects a weakness, they push in that direction. Perhaps that is another reason Israel gave up Gaza, with no pre-conditions other than peace (how did that work out?). Modifying/removing the blockade only enhances the strength of Hamas. It shows that Hamas is better at forcing Israel's hand than Abbas. Instead of modifying Israel's policies, Israel should point out that all kinds of goods have been entering Gaza- illegally, via Egypt. Israel should show photos of supermarkets and stores, showing the abundance of food and goods that are brought into Gaza. They should also show all the weapons and missles that Hamas and others have received illegally, via these tunnels. This is the only way that the world will understand what Israel is up against, and why the blockade must continue. Isreal has so many top scientists and scholars; where are our PR specialists?

Big Liar

let them build bunkers, Hamas buildings and flatten them later.

Everybody knows, that easing the blockade will bring more weapons to Gaza and more terror to Israel ! The US government knows it - the puppet Ban knows it - everybody knows it !They think that they can sacrifice Israel and get away with it - they willl find out, that they were wrong, for '' He who curses Israel will be cursed !''

The US and UN have repeatedly made public statements about Shalit. You haven't been listening or only read anti-American, Likud media. Now that the Israeli government has made this announcement in English, will it follow through and implement it? When will Likud recognize Palestine's right to exist?

siege |sēj| noun a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling the surrender of those inside : Verdun had withstood a siege of ten weeks | [as adj. ] siege warfare. Gaza's economy is booming and humanitarian aid is delivered daily in more than 100 loaded trucks. Please re-check your definition of "siege". Thanks.

The blockade is only a stop gap with limits due to tunnels. Cast Lead should have removed Hamas from power instead of punishment and pressure on Gaza people. Israel is using poor tactics that only delay but don't fix the problems.

Great, does that mean the US is going to ease border crossings from Mexico!?! Those poor Mexicans only want a chance to work in their own country, Texas, California, Arizona.....

For which we get nothing- no Schalit and longer term a worse war. The West's solution to terror is appease it not fight it. It's a sad day that Israel has simply become a reflection of the western weakness

Well over a million tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months, equaling nearly a ton of aid for every man, woman and child in Gaza. International food aid worth millions of dollars continually flows through the Israeli humanitarian apparatus, ensuring that there is no food shortage in Gaza. The list of Israeli aid to Gaza is so impressive that the question has been asked why Israel is doing so much for an entity with which it is in a state of armed conflict. The question is made more acute in view of the promises the Israeli government made regarding “total separation” in order to make the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza more palatable to the Israeli public. As to the “abject poverty” in Gaza : http://xrl.us/bhm6x9

Israel don't want any one to vist Gaza and take pictures because they destroy it and people like you act like it didnt happen they are not go to change Hamas so all they can do is make the people in Gaza suffer

When the Israeli government made this announcement about the blockade it released two versions, one in English that was sent to foreign diplomats, and one in Hebrew for local media consumption, and the two versions are quite different. While the English version claims that the decision “was made,” the Hebrew version insisted it was Knesset ministers just voicing their opinion on a possible easing of the Gaza blockade and that no vote took place on any particular draft. The military personnel in charge of enforcing the blockade say that they haven’t been informed of a policy change at all, and that it’s business as usual at the Gaza border. Don’t expect too much from this dark regime - unless what you expect is the slow strangulation of the Palestinians.

That's pragmatism for you.

Israel should be strong and united and not divided. So if the flotillas want to enter Gaza, let them. this is nato`s problem, and the declining west`s problem, not ours. We should not do their patsy work for them.

Statements by the UN and US have no real impact on events in Israel and Palestine. The US will not push Israel over it's behaviour in Palestine while it is up to its neck in problems with the failed christian crusades in the middle east. It does not care about Palestine - Palestines friends are Americas enemies. The UN would like (as a whole) to see a happy Palestinian state. It's leader Mr Moon is an Evangelical Christian who blames the Jewish religion for the death of his Saviour and does not personally care about the security of Israel, but the UN would need US support to act against Israel in any way, anyway. Israel and Palestine are alone in their struggles, and they should both ignore everyone else and continue on with their respective agendas, no holds barred! May the best religion win! Peace.

Dark regime - I don't expect anything from this dark regime. But yes, you are right, you can expect one thing from Hamas ( you must be mentioning this regime, I guess, since Israel is democratic country), slow strangulation of the Palestinians.

1-Hamas is very clear :Exchange deal to be concluded..this is Hamas Fair demand .. Sooner or later Israel will yeild ..the sooner the better !! 2- So Israel will get its legitemacy if Hamas change Charter and recognise Israel !! and this comes through Sanctions ans Siege on Gaza ?!

Who told you that we live in Gaza just to eat and drink and receive humanitarian aid ???..what a list of Israeli aid to gaza made you impressive ??

it is good that people in gaza will live more humanly, get more nutrution and healthcare and accomodation etc however what kind of food or healthcare medication are the people in gaza going to have should not be under control of anyone. the blockadge should be removed completely!!!