Once again Israel is opening Gaza crossings to permit delivering supplies to the Hamas-controlled area. Some 100 trucks are scheduled to bring materials into Gaza via Kerem Shalom, the very same area from which IDF soldier Gilad was taken captive on June 25, 2006, almost three years ago. Fuel will be transported to the Hamas-controlled area from the Nachal Oz Depot.

Israel continues to pass tax-generated funds to the PA and permits goods to enter Gaza without linking these acts to addressing Gilad Shalit’s release. Activists are demanding that at the very least, Israel should link humanitarian gestures to a demand that an International Red Cross representative be permitted to see the soldier, who has been without visitors since taken hostage.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)