Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Elder of Ziyon
Today, Israel informed Gaza authorities that it will allow building materials into Gaza for the first time since the May war, but only for the private sector and humanitarian projects.
Similarly, Israel will allow telecommunications equipment for the private sector.
Israel is working on a way for Qatar to donate money directly to Gazans through a UN mechanism, after Palestinian banks balked, concerned that they might be sued for terrorist funding.
Earlier this week, Israel resumed allowing Gaza merchants and businesspeople - over a thousand a day - to cross into Israel to work out deals for imports and exports, as they did (quietly) before COVID. (Only those with COVID antibodies are allowed to enter.)
So tensions should be easing, right?
Of course not.
Last week the IDF shot down a Hamas drone that flew into Israeli territory.
Yesterday, Gaza terror groups shot a rocket towards Israel that was intercepted by Iron Dome, with another falling short in Gaza.
Gaza groups announced their intention to resume riots at the Gaza fence and an increase in balloon firebombs later this week. Hamas acknowledged that Israel has been working on easing restrictions - and saying that this isn't enough.
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