Jerusalem, July 30: Israel says it will allow a one-time transfer of cement into the Gaza Strip for the first time since it left many homes in ruins during the 22-day onslaught against the territory.
Israeli officials said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had allowed the transfer of more than 310 metric tons of cement for rebuilding a flour mill, a sewage treatment facility and the British cemetery, AFP reported.
The one-off consignment will also include some steel and is expected to be transferred “in the coming weeks,” a military official said.
Many buildings remain in ruins after Tel Aviv launched its three week blitz against the beleaguered Gazans during last December-January offensive on the strip.
At least 16,000 residential buildings were damaged and nearly 5,000 houses reduced to rubble, making thousands of people homeless.
—-Agencies