By Xinhua,
Gaza : Some progress was made on the functioning of commercial crossings into Gaza for the first time sine they were reopened under the Hamas-Israel ceasefire which took effect on June 19, Hamas sources said on Monday.
The sources said that Israel increased the number of shipments it sends to Gaza, explaining that more than 100 truckloads have crossed into Gaza through Sufa crossing for the first time since Israel imposed the sanctions on Gaza.
Israel sealed off all crossing points into Gaza in June 2007 when Hamas took control of the territory after routing security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
But months of Egyptian efforts have succeeded to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, stopping Gaza violence and easing the siege.
Before the sanctions were imposed, between 400-500 truckloads used to enter Gaza on daily basis. During the blockade, Israel only allowed between 50-70 trucks carrying basic food and medicine into the strip, not constantly.
This week, the shipments included various food products, frozen meat and fish, cleaning materials and cement, according to the sources who also expected that more construction materials will come soon.
But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of not being seriously committed to the ceasefire deal, adding that the Israeli “violations are continuing.”
“The crossings are opened to a degree less than the one before the lull began and the level of goods that enter Gaza is lesser and this reflects the occupation’s desire to play with the lull’s conditions to extort Hamas,” Abu Zuhri said in a statement faxed to the media.
Israel says the full lifting of Gaza closure, including the opening of Rafah travelers’ crossing, will occur when Hamas releases Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza since 2006.
But Abu Zuhri warns that the Israeli weak commitment to the ceasefire “will backfire on the file of Shalit.”