http://www.smh.com.au/world/israel-allows-rare-shipment-of-clothes-and-shoes-into-gaza-20100405-rn6t.html
Israel allows rare shipment of clothes and shoes into Gaza SAKHER ABU EL OUN April 6, 2010 GAZA CITY: Israel has allowed the first commercial shipment of clothes and shoes into the Gaza Strip since 2008, but it says its policy towards the territory's Hamas rulers has not changed. A Palestinian official had earlier said the five truckloads of clothes and five of shoes were the first such shipment since the summer of 2008, but later clarified that smaller amounts of such items had entered Gaza as part of international aid packages. ''Today is the first time they have allowed the private sector to bring clothes and shoes into Gaza since August 2008,'' Raid Fatuh, the Palestinian Authority border official in charge of co-ordinating such shipments, said on Sunday. An Israeli military official said the shipment was part of a longstanding policy of allowing basic goods into the territory ruled by Hamas. There has been no change in policy,'' he said. Israel has sealed off the territory of 1.5 million people from all but critical aid since Hamas seized power in June 2007, tightening sanctions originally imposed after the 2006 capture of an Israeli soldier. Clothing, domestic appliances and other basic goods are smuggled in through tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border. Although prices have gone up, there are no shortages of such goods. The Israeli military official said the shipment was part of a package of goods approved for UN-run projects in the territory. ''Everything is co-ordinated with the UN so we are sure who is getting the clothes,'' he said. ''Israel will not allow the reconstruction of Gaza, which we regard as a terrorist entity, because it is controlled by Hamas, and the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, is still held captive.'' Cement for a UN waste water project was also included in the shipments to Gaza. The border closures have prevented virtually any reconstruction since the Gaza war ended more than a year ago. Agence France-Presse
