UK hails Gaza’s exports to West Bank

The UK welcomes the first transfer of goods from Gaza to the West Bank since 2007, a press release from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said on Thursday.  On March 6 Israel, following negotiation with the World Food Programme (WFP), allowed the transfer of 13 lorry loads of date bars from Gaza to the West Bank, the first since five years ago. Minister for the Middle East, Alastair Burt, was quoted by the FCO as saying: “This is an important step by Israel towards fulfilling its commitment to allow economic development for the 1.6 million people in Gaza. We hope that further transfers of goods to the West Bank - including fruit and vegetables, textiles and furniture – will now also be permitted”. At the same time, Mr Burt has assured that the UK will never underestimate the security needs of Israel, pointing out that: “with unemployment in Gaza at 26 per cent, private sector business there at risk of collapse, and Hamas profiting from smuggled goods through the tunnels, there is an urgent need to reopen Gaza’s access to its traditional markets in the West Bank and Israel”.