A Palestinian anti-siege activist on Monday warned that many people in Gaza started to feel that a recent ceasefire with Israel was sort of illusion.
Ten days after the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took effect, the people's hopes of getting the blockade eased and the reviving of economy faded, said Rami Abdo, spokesman for the Popular Campaign against Siege.
The ceasefire is sought to lift the blockade that Israel imposed on Gaza when Hamas took over the coastal strip by force in June 2007. The deal succeeded to restore calmness but Israel doesn't open the commercial crossings into Gaza in the way the Palestinians want.
Abdo said the Israeli occupation "turned away from its obligations."
Israel stopped short from going ahead with opening the crossings after Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel. Hamas took measures against the factions that violated the ceasefire and Israel on Monday put the ceasefire back on course.
Abdo said that Israel kept Karni, the main commercial crossing, closed and opened Sufa crossing which has the capacity to allow 90truckloads into Gaza a day which means the quarter of Gaza needs.
As a result of the year-long embargo, more than 46 percent of private sector projects came to a halt and the remaining enterprises decreased their commercial activities to 25 percent, Abdo said.
Meanwhile, Nasser al-Sarraj, an official from the ministry of economy, revealed that Israel has blacklisted 12 Palestinian dealers and prevented them from importing through its crossings.
He also added that Israel will only allow 70 truckloads to enter Gaza through Sufa crossing instead of opening the passage way on its maximum capacity.
Source: Xinhua
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