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OPT: Israel opens two commercial crossings into Gaza

GAZA, Jul 02, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX News Network) -- Israeli sources on Wednesday said commercial crossing points into Gaza Strip reopened in the day after Palestinian rocket attack blocked earlier openings.

The Israeli radio reported that cement will be allowed into Gaza for the first time since June 2007 when Israel imposed economic sanctions on the coastal Strip after Hamas took control of the territory by force.

The ease of the Israeli blockade comes as part of an Egyptian- brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, took effect on June 19.

Jehad Salim, a spokesman for transportation companies, said that Israel opened Karni commercial crossing in eastern Gaza city and Sufa crossing in southeast Gaza Strip.

"It is expected that 80 trucks will enter today, including five truckloads of concrete and five truckloads of calves... the other trucks carry food products," Salim said.

He added that construction materials and metal are awaited to come into Gaza next week, explaining that five trucks of such materials everyday will not resolve the problem.

In general, before June last year, between 400 and 500 truckloads of various products and materials used to enter Gaza everyday, according to Salim.

The ceasefire deal relatively restored calm in the Hamas- controlled territory but several rocket attacks by Palestinian militants prevented the crossings from systematically reopen in accordance with the deal.

Hamas said it is committed to the ceasefire and its police arrested a number of people who violated the deal.