Gaza crossing opens for limited exports

Israeli authorities decided to partially open the Kerem Shalom crossing Thursday to allow an export of strawberries and limited imports of food and fuel, a crossings official said. Raed Fattouh told Ma’an that Israeli authorities opened the crossing to allow the entry of 230 trucks loaded with aid for the trade and the agricultural sectors, in addition to food. Fattouh said that among the vehicles allowed in on Thursday, there were 14 cement trucks and metal for various UNRWA construction projects. Cooking gas will be pumped in limited amounts, he added. On Wednesday, an environmental researcher warned that a waste crisis is worsening in the Gaza Strip, as imports of trucks are being prevented as part of Israel's siege. Wael Safi said increases in population and a difficult economic situation was complicating efforts to collect waste, while Israel is preventing the import of vehicles and spare parts for trucks. Another developing problem continued this week, as Israel refused to allow technicians to repair a main power line supplying Gaza, a spokesman for Gaza's electricity company said. Jamal Dardasawi said the line has been down for 13 days, exacerbating the electricity crisis in the coastal enclave. The Israeli government has not allowed technicians from the Israel Electric Company or from Gaza to repair the line, which usually provided 12 Megawatts of power, Dardasawi said.