The Palestinian Civil Affairs Committee has published a list of measures intended to ease Israeli imposed travel restrictions on Gaza residents. The list includes approval for 50 students from Gaza to study in the West Bank for the first time since 2000, and approval-in-principle for the sale of Gaza-grown vegetables in Israel for the first time since 2007.
The Palestinian Civil Affairs Committee published the list in the Palestinian media, following negotiations with Israel. Sources from the committee confirmed the publication to Gisha, but added that they do not know when these new measures will come into effect. There has been no confirmation from Israel so far. The following list of measures has been published:
- Approval to bring 45 agricultural tractors into the Gaza Strip.
- Increase in number of businessman cards (BMC) from 250 to 450. These cards allow increased travel freedom compared to regular merchant permits.
- Increase in number of medical patients traveling from Gaza to receive medical treatment in Israel from 80 to 120 per day.
- Increase in number of merchants permitted to travel from Gaza to Israel from 400 to 800 per day.
- Increase in number of monthly quota of merchant permits from 3,000 to 5,000.
- Grant of single use exit permits to 50 Gaza students who wish to study in the West Bank.
- Approval for sale of vegetables from Gaza in Israel. The quantities and types of vegetables approved for sale will be detailed at a later point.
- Approval for travel abroad via Allenby Bridge border crossing for Gaza students.
We will continue to monitor and update on any new developments.