2010-06-17 19:47

JERUSALEM - Israel agreed Thursday to ease its land blockade on the Gaza Strip, hoping to quell growing worldwide outrage following a deadly raid on an international flotilla bound for the Palestinian territory.

In one of the major changes, Israel will now allow in more desperately needed construction materials for civilian projects, provided those projects are carried out under international supervision, government and military officials said. Israel has barely allowed in materials such as cement and steel, fearing Hamas militants could use them to build weapons and fortifications.

That policy has prevented rebuilding after Israel's brief but fierce war with Hamas in Gaza last year.

An Israeli military official told the Associated Press that all foods would be freely let in to Gaza, effective immediately. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak on the record. Israel has previously allowed a narrow and constantly changing list of authorized food items.

A brief government statement announcing Thursday's decision also indicated the naval blockade on Gaza would remain in force.

Israel will "continue existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war material," it said.

There was no mention of lifting or easing bans on exports or the import of raw materials that would be crucial to galvanizing the territory's battered economy. And the statement contained no specifics on what else would be allowed into Gaza.

But the fact that Israel was forced to respond to an international outcry over the blockade was evidence of the intense pressure the country's leaders felt.

The European Union cautiously welcomed the decision.

"This is a step in the right direction," said Cristina Galach, spokeswoman for the bloc's Spanish presidency.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said officials wanted to see how the Israeli decision is carried out. "The detail is what matters," she said.

Israel must "make sure that many, many more goods can get in to Gaza to enable people to reconstruct their homes, to build schools, to place infrastructure, and also enable people to get on with ordinary lives," she said.

UN spokesman Chris Gunness said the blockade has prevented the United Nations from bringing in construction materials needed to carry out an internationally approved plan to rebuild thousands of homes and other buildings Israel damaged or destroyed in last year's war in Gaza.

The closure has also shuttered hundreds of factories, put tens of thousands of people out of work and brought the territory's fragile economy to a standstill, mainly hurting ordinary Gazans.

EU officials will discuss the possibility of helping reopen Gaza's border crossings, Ashton added. The EU helped monitor Gaza's southern border with Egypt until Hamas took power in 2007.

The partial lifting of the siege did not satisfy Hamas.

"We want a real lifting of the siege, not window-dressing," said Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil.