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Tel Aviv Allows Gazan Traders to Enter West Bank, Israel

Fish is sold at a market in Gaza. (EPA)
Fish is sold at a market in Gaza. (EPA)
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Tel Aviv Allows Gazan Traders to Enter West Bank, Israel

Fish is sold at a market in Gaza. (EPA)
Fish is sold at a market in Gaza. (EPA)

Tel Aviv allowed on Sunday several traders in Gaza Strip to enter the West Bank and Israel through the Erez crossing, following months of being denied access.

The move is part of efforts to ease tensions that have lingered after the last round of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants that ended in May.

Israel decided to expand the fishing area in the Strip from six to 12 nautical miles. It also decided to allow Gazans to travel abroad through Palestinian and Israeli crossings. Israel will also allow the import of agriculture, food and electric goods into the Gaza Strip as of Sunday.

Other goods for medicine, fishing, and international trade will be transferred to the Strip.

The passage of Palestinians living in Gaza abroad will take place through Israel's border with Jordan, and 29 private vehicles will enter through the Erez crossing.

Rami Abu al-Rish, the director-general of trade and crossings for the Ministry of the Economy in Gaza, confirmed that the Coordination and Cooperation Committee of the General Authority of Civil Affairs in Ramallah informed them that electrical goods will be allowed into the strip on Monday.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had warned on Sunday of the shortage of raw materials to launch reconstruction in Gaza.

Director of UNRWA in Gaza, Sam Rose said in a press statement that the lack of raw materials for starting the reconstruction plan "was due to the closure of the only commercial crossing between Gaza and Israel."

"Reconstruction in the Gaza Strip has not started yet, and we, like many others, are deeply concerned over the continued Israeli closure of the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing point," he said.

"Some materials such as cement, concrete, and iron are not available in the local markets of Gaza," Rose said, adding that the shortage of raw materials stops and delays the reconstruction process.

Up to 1,200 housing units were destroyed in the last round of fighting in the Gaza Strip. Some 1,000 houses are badly damaged and not suitable for living. The reconstruction will cost about 165 million US dollars.

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Iraq Urges Trump to Strengthen Security Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
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Iraq Urges Trump to Strengthen Security Coordination

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Government Media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani congratulated US President Donald Trump on returning to the White House, while the Shiite-led Coordination Framework ignored the occasion.

Instead, Coordination Framework officials focused on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and domestic issues.

In his message on Tuesday, al-Sudani’s gesture seemed to clear the way for Iraq to move past the arrest warrant issued for Trump in 2021 over the 2020 killings of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The Iraqi judiciary stated at the time that the arrest warrant was based on Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code and that investigations into other individuals involved, whether Iraqi or foreign, would continue.

This week, Iraqi activists shared an image of the judicial decision, sparking debate on social media about the fate of the arrest warrant now that Trump has returned to the US presidency.

Some argued that the warrant would remain a point of embarrassment for those who pushed for its issuance.

Nevertheless, Sudani congratulated Trump, expressing Iraq's interest in strengthening ties with the US through the Strategic Framework Agreement, focusing on mutual interests.

He emphasized the importance of promoting regional and global stability, security, and development.

Sudani reiterated Iraq’s commitment to its strategic relationship with the US and expanding cooperation in security, economics, culture, technology, investment, and sustainable development, while respecting sovereignty and avoiding interference in domestic affairs.

President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid also congratulated Trump on his re-election, affirming Iraq’s support for security and stability in the region and the world, and for enhancing bilateral relations to benefit both nations.

In contrast, the Coordination Framework refrained from mentioning Trump in its statement following a meeting held in Baghdad on Monday night into Tuesday, coinciding with the inauguration ceremony in Washington.

Instead, the coalition congratulated the Palestinian people on the Gaza ceasefire and urged the international community to ramp up efforts to rebuild war-torn areas, assist displaced people, and address the destruction of infrastructure, particularly hospitals and schools.

The Coordination Framework also highlighted consensus among the Iraqi parliament’s leadership, calling for support for provincial governors in fulfilling their duties.

While praising the government's successful foreign visits, Coordination Framework officials emphasized the importance of maintaining Iraq’s balanced foreign policy.