In an attempt to avert a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, officials of Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, the US, EU and Israel met on Sunday and agreed to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow goods from Egypt into the Strip.
The Karni crossing farther north is generally used to transfer goods, but has been closed for the past two months by Israeli authorities due to reports that the crossing would be used as a means to reach Israel and attack its citizens.
Sunday's agreement marked a compromise on the part of the Palestinian Authority, as Israeli inspectors at Kerem Shalom will examine the Gaza-bound trucks, according to Haaretz.
As part of the agreement, only goods from Egypt, and not from Israel, will be allowed into the Gaza Strip, according to the Jerusalem Post, a move that some in Israel have called politically motivated.
So too, no goods produced in the Strip will be allowed into Israel. Israeli textile manufacturers have also pleaded with their authorities that their businesses would suffer unless goods from Gaza would be allowed into Israel.
On Monday, representatives of Israel and Egypt are set to meet again to discuss further details of the agreement.
The three-way Kerem Shalom crossing connects Egypt, Israel, and the southern Gaza Strip.
Supplies of certain foods such as bread, sugar and milk are at dangerously low levels in the Strip.
