August 10, 2010

The UN reports that Israel has expanded the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza allowing the number of truckloads of goods crossing daily to increase fr. 100 to 250; despite Israel’s easing of restrictions since 6/17, imports to Gaza are still only 36% of what they were before Hamas’s takeover of Gaza in 6/07. In the West Bank, the IDF raids and threatens to seal Palestinian stores across fr. the Beit Romano settlement in Hebron (site of weekly protests against Israeli settlement expansion); Palestinian and international activists race to the scene to block the soldiers; the IDF arrests 4 Palestinians (released several hrs. later) and 1 international activist (deported). (PCHR 8/12; OCHA 8/13)