Israel Allows 1,500 Gaza Families to Rebuild Homes Destroyed in 2014 Operation

Israel is allowing 1,500 families living in the Gaza Strip to rebuild homes that were destroyed during the 2014 military operation known as Protective Edge according to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works. According to Palestinian sources, Israeli authorities have not allowed the rebuilding destroyed homes for more than six months. Israel regulates the influx of materials that can be used by terrorists against Israeli targets. The flow of cement to Gaza was cut-off completely several months ago when a “terror tunnel” was discovered. Hamas terrorists have built a network of tunnels used for smuggling goods from Egypt and as platforms for staging attacks against Israeli targets. To do so, vast amounts of cement were diverted from other projects. Israel imposed a general blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007 when Hamas forcibly seized control from Fatah and the Palestinian Authority. The Israelis have sought to ease the blockade under intense international pressure.