The first vehicles entered this morning from the Herez checkpoint carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The first time since the victory of Hamas extremists in 2007 that Israel has allowed private humanitarian convoys into the strip.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - For the first time since the election of Hamas extremists, Israel has allowed the passage of private humanitarian convoys into the Gaza Strip for. The first trucks passed through the Israeli Herez, checkpoint this morning at as announced yesterday by the army spokesman.

"The entry of these private vehicles – an army statement read yesterday stated - will be the first since Hamas seized power in Strip”.

Israel's decision to loosen the embargo that since 2007 has prevented all unauthorised vehicles, vessels or aircrafts from entering the Gaza Strip, is a response to the pressures made by the international community after the Turkish Mavi Marmara incident.

From May 31, following the Israeli army attack on the Turkish aid ship to Gaza, the international community launched a campaign of protests calling on Tel Aviv to loosen or completely stop its blockade on the Gaza Strip. The government imposed the block after the 2007 Hamas victory over Fatah and takeover of the area.

• Israel
• Palestine
• hamas
• gaza
• strip
• blockade
• humanitarian
• aid