Building material for 1,200 housing units in two projects, 18 new UNRWA schools permitted to enter Strip by COGAT.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFErez Crossing 311 (R)(photo credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters)
Construction material for 1,200 housing units in two projects can enter Gaza, the IDF decided on Tuesday.Additionally, building material can also enter Gaza for 18 new schools for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, according to the spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).RELATED:‘UNRWA report on Gaza education false, biased’ Israel transfers Turkish medical supplies to Gaza He added that building material for these projects can enter Gaza as of Wednesday.The COGAT spokesman said that from June 2010 until now, COGAT has allowed construction material for 150 projects to enter Gaza – including for 42 UNRWA schools, as well for infrastructure and water projects.All the construction projects were approved by the Palestinian Authority and funded by the international donor community, he said.The IDF, however, also reviews the projects to ensure that they do not pose a security risk to Israel before approving the entry of building material into Gaza.UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said he welcomed the approvals, “which follows lengthy negotiations with the Israeli authorities.”He added, the “approval will be judged in light of the arrival of the necessary materials in Gaza. We hope this will help meet the needs of refugees – particularly those in the south of the Gaza Strip, many of whom lost their homes nearly a decade ago.”Gunness added that UNRWA’s fundamental request is for Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza.
