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Israel Allowing Construction Materials into Gaza
(AFP) Israel allowed a shipment of construction materials into Hamas-ruled Gaza for the first time in three years on Thursday. Six truckloads of wood and aluminum entered via the Kerem Shalom crossing, Palestinian customs official Raed Fattuh said. "These are Palestinian goods that belong to tradesmen and have been stored at the port of Ashdod since mid-2007." Fattuh said Israel had decided "to allow shipments of wood and aluminum into Gaza every day except Friday and Saturday." Last month, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said during a visit to Gaza that Israel had approved the import of construction materials for UN projects to build 150 homes, a flour mill and a sewage treatment plant. An Israeli military official 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."