RAMALLAH
A Palestinian Authority (PA) official has cited progress in talks with Israel to allow 5,000 Gazan workers to have permits to work in Israel.
"The Israelis do not mind to have the Gazans working inside Israel or in the settlements around Gaza," Nazmi Mehanna, director of the Palestinian Authority's border authority, told Anadolu Agency.
"Talks are underway on the mechanism that would regulate the Gazan workers' entry into Israel," he added.
This summer, Israel pounded the Gaza Strip from air, land and sea for weeks – beginning July 7 – with the stated aim of degrading the military capabilities of Palestinian resistance factions.
More than 2,160 Gazans, mostly civilians, were killed – and 11,000 injured – during seven weeks of unrelenting Israeli attacks in July and August.
During the onslaught, 15,671 housing units across the coastal territory were damaged, including 2,276 that were totally destroyed, according to official Palestinian figures.
The Israeli offensive finally ended on August 26 with the announcement of an indefinite cease-fire arrangement.
The truce deal, brokered by Egypt, calls for reopening Gaza's border crossings with Israel – which, if implemented, would effectively end the latter's seven-year blockade of the territory – and expanding the area open to Palestinian fisherman.
According to the agreement's terms, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators will resume indirect talks on other core Palestinian demands – including the release of prisoners and the establishment of a Gaza seaport – later this month.
www.aa.com.tr/en
