UNRWA operations head refutes Israel’s claims of easing Gaza siege

 UNRWA operations director in Gaza John Ging refuted Thursday Israel’s claims to easing its siege on the Gaza Strip, confirming that there has been no material change on the lives of people since Israel announced an ease on the economic siege of the region.

Ging accused Israeli officials of ignoring the demands of the international community to end the siege. “There’s been no material change for the people on the ground here in terms of their status, the aid dependency, the absence of any recovery or reconstruction, no economy.”

“The easing, as it was described, has been nothing more than a political easing of the pressure on Israel and Egypt.”

The Israeli military has for the past four years imposed a tight grip on the Gaza Strip and banned the import of building materials and other basic supplies needed to rebuild the devastated territory.

Israel announced last June it would lift some of the restrictions imposed on Gaza by allowing more consumables in the region.

The government’s step was in response to international pressure following its May 31 naval attack on a humanitarian aid ship on its way to Gaza that left nine activists dead and others wounded.