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| Israel to Allow Building Materials Into Gaza | Israel to Allow Building Materials Into Gaza |
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| JERUSALEM — Under pressure from the United Nations amid a mounting economic and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, Israel has agreed to restart the transfer of construction materials to Gaza on Tuesday after an eight-week hiatus. | JERUSALEM — Under pressure from the United Nations amid a mounting economic and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, Israel has agreed to restart the transfer of construction materials to Gaza on Tuesday after an eight-week hiatus. |
| But the building supplies will be allowed in only for United Nations projects, which employ a fraction of the thousands of construction workers who have been idled, and negotiations to resolve Gaza’s fuel shortage have not yielded significant results. | But the building supplies will be allowed in only for United Nations projects, which employ a fraction of the thousands of construction workers who have been idled, and negotiations to resolve Gaza’s fuel shortage have not yielded significant results. |
| “We are increasingly concerned about the situation in Gaza deteriorating,” Robert H. Serry, the United Nations’ special envoy for the Middle East peace process, said in an interview. | “We are increasingly concerned about the situation in Gaza deteriorating,” Robert H. Serry, the United Nations’ special envoy for the Middle East peace process, said in an interview. |
| Mr. Serry, who worked with Israeli officials to resume the import of construction materials, acknowledged that “it is only one part of the constraints we are facing in Gaza.” He added, “Without also addressing the political underlying issues, everything we’re doing in Gaza is tenuous.” | Mr. Serry, who worked with Israeli officials to resume the import of construction materials, acknowledged that “it is only one part of the constraints we are facing in Gaza.” He added, “Without also addressing the political underlying issues, everything we’re doing in Gaza is tenuous.” |
| Gaza, home to 1.7 million Palestinians and controlled since 2007 by the militant Islamic Hamas movement, has been struggling since the summer to cope with the current Egyptian government’s closing of hundreds of smuggling tunnels through which the strip received steel, gravel and cheap diesel fuel, as well as consumer products. | Gaza, home to 1.7 million Palestinians and controlled since 2007 by the militant Islamic Hamas movement, has been struggling since the summer to cope with the current Egyptian government’s closing of hundreds of smuggling tunnels through which the strip received steel, gravel and cheap diesel fuel, as well as consumer products. |
| The situation worsened on Nov. 1, when Hamas shut down Gaza’s lone power plant because of a shortage of electricity and cheap fuel from Egypt, stretching blackouts up to 18 hours a day and causing raw sewage to flood some streets because pumping stations could not operate. | The situation worsened on Nov. 1, when Hamas shut down Gaza’s lone power plant because of a shortage of electricity and cheap fuel from Egypt, stretching blackouts up to 18 hours a day and causing raw sewage to flood some streets because pumping stations could not operate. |
| Late last month, Turkey donated about $850,000 in fuel, which is being used for 100 critical spots, including pumping stations, schools and hospitals. But Palestinian and United Nations officials said that the fuel was not enough to address the broader energy problems plaguing daily life, and that in any case it would run out by February. | Late last month, Turkey donated about $850,000 in fuel, which is being used for 100 critical spots, including pumping stations, schools and hospitals. But Palestinian and United Nations officials said that the fuel was not enough to address the broader energy problems plaguing daily life, and that in any case it would run out by February. |
| Mr. Serry’s office estimated that Gaza needed an infusion of $6 million to $8 million a month to address the fuel shortage. Qatar has expressed willingness to donate the money, but political friction between Gaza and the Palestinian Authority — which is dominated by Hamas’s political rival, Fatah — over taxes and other matters concerning the fuel’s importation have stymied the deal. | Mr. Serry’s office estimated that Gaza needed an infusion of $6 million to $8 million a month to address the fuel shortage. Qatar has expressed willingness to donate the money, but political friction between Gaza and the Palestinian Authority — which is dominated by Hamas’s political rival, Fatah — over taxes and other matters concerning the fuel’s importation have stymied the deal. |
| On Sunday, despite the cold and rain, the Hamas power authority asked residents not to turn on their heaters to conserve electricity. | On Sunday, despite the cold and rain, the Hamas power authority asked residents not to turn on their heaters to conserve electricity. |
| Israel suspended delivery of construction materials in mid-October after discovering a 1.5-mile tunnel from Gaza into its territory that it feared would be used to kidnap or attack Israelis. | Israel suspended delivery of construction materials in mid-October after discovering a 1.5-mile tunnel from Gaza into its territory that it feared would be used to kidnap or attack Israelis. |
| Guy Inbar, a spokesman for the Israeli agency that coordinates interaction with the Palestinian territories, said the transfers would resume on Tuesday with a new “supervision and control mechanism” to ensure the materials would be used only for United Nations building projects. | Guy Inbar, a spokesman for the Israeli agency that coordinates interaction with the Palestinian territories, said the transfers would resume on Tuesday with a new “supervision and control mechanism” to ensure the materials would be used only for United Nations building projects. |
| Gisha, an Israeli organization that promotes access to Gaza, said Israel began allowing some construction materials in three years ago for international projects, and last December, after the cease-fire agreement that ended eight days of cross-border violence, permitted 20 truckloads of gravel daily for the private sector. In September, after Egypt’s crackdown on the tunnels, Israel increased the allowance to 70 truckloads daily and added cement deliveries. | Gisha, an Israeli organization that promotes access to Gaza, said Israel began allowing some construction materials in three years ago for international projects, and last December, after the cease-fire agreement that ended eight days of cross-border violence, permitted 20 truckloads of gravel daily for the private sector. In September, after Egypt’s crackdown on the tunnels, Israel increased the allowance to 70 truckloads daily and added cement deliveries. |
| “The international community is appropriately worried about Gaza’s humanitarian situation, but Gaza’s dependence on foreign aid stems in large part from Israeli restrictions on economic development,” said Gisha’s director, Sari Bashi. “If people in Gaza were permitted to maintain and grow their economy, they would need far less humanitarian assistance.” | “The international community is appropriately worried about Gaza’s humanitarian situation, but Gaza’s dependence on foreign aid stems in large part from Israeli restrictions on economic development,” said Gisha’s director, Sari Bashi. “If people in Gaza were permitted to maintain and grow their economy, they would need far less humanitarian assistance.” |
| Nabil Abu Muaileq, head of the contractors’ union in Gaza, said that there were $200 million in projects currently idle, leaving 30,000 people who work directly on the buildings and an additional 40,000 carpenters, plumbers, blacksmiths and others connected to construction without income. | Nabil Abu Muaileq, head of the contractors’ union in Gaza, said that there were $200 million in projects currently idle, leaving 30,000 people who work directly on the buildings and an additional 40,000 carpenters, plumbers, blacksmiths and others connected to construction without income. |
| He estimated that based on the limited imports Israel now plans to allow, 3,500 of them would return to work. | He estimated that based on the limited imports Israel now plans to allow, 3,500 of them would return to work. |
| “The ordeal is huge, and its disastrous effects will appear soon,” Mr. Abu Muaileq warned. “This will not resolve any crisis, but we hope it paves the way for a full lifting of restrictions.” | “The ordeal is huge, and its disastrous effects will appear soon,” Mr. Abu Muaileq warned. “This will not resolve any crisis, but we hope it paves the way for a full lifting of restrictions.” |
Fares Akram contributed reporting from Gaza. | Fares Akram contributed reporting from Gaza. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | |
| Correction: December 15, 2013 | |
Earlier versions of this article incorrectly stated that Israel had blocked the installation of a high-tech cargo scanner donated by the Netherlands at the commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel. The scanner was installed several weeks ago and is being used on agricultural goods bound for Europe, but Israel has prevented its use for exports to Israel and the West Bank. |