Israel allows Gaza aid, holds concert for captive soldier

Israel on Monday announced it would ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip to allow construction materials, in a move that won it cautious international praise. On the same day, thousands gathered near Gaza for an open-air concert to show solidarity with imprisoned soldier Gilad Shalit, whose capture led to the imposition of the blockade in 2006. 

Reuters

The government published a list of construction materials allowed into Gaza, but only for projects approved by the Palestinian Authority and implemented under international supervision.

A government statement said that while the materials "are liable to be used for Hamas military purposes, Israel will permit their entry into Gaza so as to faciltate construction projects."

The blockade has prevented Gaza residents from rebuilding their territory from the devastation of a 22-day Israeli military offensive that ended in January 2009.

A separate list maintained a ban on the import of arms and ammunition, as well as "dual use" items Israel fears could be used for military purposes, such as rock drills, ball bearings, diving equipment and fireworks.

"I welcome the government's publication of the list," said Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair.

"The list of controlled items is tightly defined to protect Israel's legitimate security needs," Blair said, noting that "implenentation would be the test."

Foreign ministers of France, Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain said they hoped "the measures announced by the Government of Israel will soon be implemented," according to statements by the Italian foreign ministry.

Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the Spanish, French and Italian foreign ministers would visit Gaza this month to check on Israel's plan to ease the blockade.

International pressure on Israel to ease its seige on Gaza has increased since nine Turkish activists were killed in a 31 May commando raid on Gaza-bound flotilla of aid ships.

"The movement of persons and trade between Gaza and the West Bank should remain one of the key objectives," European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

Ashton also said the EU was "ready to support Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the opening of land crossings," and called for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's immediate release.

Israel cut off most access to the Gaza Strip when militants captured Shalit during a cross-border raid on 25 June 2006. Shalit, who holds Israeli-French citizenship, has been held by Hamas in an unknown location in the Gaza Strip since his capture, with no outside communication permitted.

Thousands of people gathered in Eskhol Park, about three kilometres from the border with Gaza, to hear the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra play beneath a large image of Shalit.

The orchestra was led by Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, who said the concert's aim was "to inspire people on the other side to give him humane treatment" and allow the 23-year-old to be visited by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

"I hope he knows we are doing this concert and one day very soon he will know every note we play goes out to him," said the 74-year-old conductor.

Several hours before the concert, Shalit's family visited the site where he was seized, near the Kerem Shalom crossing.

"Gilad is physically close to us but at the same time very far from us," Noam Shalit told reporters at the scene.

The visit to the crossing came in the middle of a 12-day march by the vamily that began at their home in northern Israel and is set to end at the Jerusalem residence of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.