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Israel announces 'civil steps' to alleviate conditions in Gaza

Israel says the measures are dependent on "preservation of security" and follow the announcement of $155 million to the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinians ride a horse cart carrying rubble past the ruins of buildings destroyed in the lasted round of Israeli-Hamas fighting, in Gaza City, on Aug. 25, 2021.

Israel’s Coordinator on Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced this morning a series of goodwill measures to be implemented immediately toward the Gaza Strip. The first, most significant step, is expanding Gaza's fishing zone to 15 nautical miles. This is the furthest point the fishing zone of Gaza has reached since 2007. Israel will also enable the entry into the country of 5,000 Palestinian merchants on top of the 2,000 already permitted entry. Still, only Gazans who either had the coronavirus or workers who have been twice vaccinated will be eligible for these new entry permits. An additional 1.3 billion gallons of water will be allowed into Gaza, whose aquifers have seriously deteriorated in recent years.

“These civil steps were approved by the political echelon and are dependent upon the continued preservation of security stability for an extended period. An extension of them will be considered in accordance with a situational assessment,” read COGAT’s statement today.

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