Entrance of construction materials to the Gaza Strip

In mid-June 2007, as part of the measures invoked in response to the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Israel began to prevent the transfer of construction materials into the Strip. Sufa Crossing, which had previously served as a transfer point for basic construction materials such as gravel, was closed to the transfer of these materials, and then closed completely in September 2008. In June 2010, following the flotilla incident, Israel stated that it would allow the transfer of gravel, steel, and cement, which it defined as “dual-use” items (i.e. materials which can be used for both civilian and military purposes), for projects approved by the Palestinian Authority and carried out under the supervision of international organizations in Gaza. Since then, Israel has approved the transfer of limited quantities of these materials to Gaza. It should be noted that these materials are not defined as “dual-use” in the Wassenaar Arrangement.

The quantity of building materials approved for transfer to Gaza is compared with the demand for gravel, cement and steel based on the average weekly transfer of these materials between January 2005 and mid-June 2007.