COGAT - Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, Ministry of DefenseSince the end of the IDF operation in Gaza (18 Jan 2009), 703,224 tons of aid and 105,600,128 liters of fuel have been delivered to the Gaza Strip.
At the Cabinet meeting of 22 March 2009, the Government of Israel instructed the bodies dealing with the matter, to enable the entry - without restriction - of foodstuffs to the residents of Gaza from all relevant sources, after it has been verified that they are indeed foodstuffs, and this in the framework of the humanitarian efforts. The Government directed that the foregoing be scrupulously implemented.
Note: Gas for domestic use (cooking and heating) is supplied according to Palestinian demand and is not subject to any limitation by Israel. However, the fuel depot at Nahal Oz has been forced to limit its operations due to constant security threats. Work is being done to adapt Kerem Shalom crossing to the transfer of fuel. In addition, a new gas line is being built that will double the capacity to transfer gas for domestic use.
In 2009, humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip increased by close to 900 percent compared to the previous year (Col. Moshe Levi, head of the IDF's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration, Nov. 16, 2009).
December summary
- Six more water desalination systems were transferred to the Gaza Strip;
- 15 truckloads of cellular communications equipment were delivered to the Palestinian mobile phone carrier, Jawal;
- Strawberries and flowers were exported;
- Renovations at Erez crossing were completed;
- Work continued at the Kerem Shalom crossing to improve the capacity of the fuel transfer facility.
- 1713 medical permits were issued along with 519 permits to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
- 2654 Gaza residents crossed to Israel, the West Bank and the Allenby Bridge Crossing, and 169 Israelis crossed into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian reasons.
- Glass was brought in for home repairs and renovations in preparation for the winter;
- 750 tons of aggregate were transferred for maintenance of the North Gaza Wastewater Treatment plant.
Weekly summary of the Gaza crossings: 27-31 Dec 2009
- 553 truckloads (10,900 tons) of humanitarian aid were transferred to the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom cargo terminal and the Karni conveyor belt.
- 664,800 liters of heavy-duty diesel for the Gaza power station and 561 tons of cooking gas were delivered via the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Nahal Oz fuel depot.
- 353 Gaza residents entered Israel for medical reasons and 61 humanitarian cases crossed via the Erez Crossing.
COGAT announces the successful transfer of six water desalination systems to the Gaza Strip: On Dec. 21, 2009, six advanced water desalination systems were transferred to the Gaza Strip. The transfer was coordinated by the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) in accordance with the civil state policy toward the Gaza Strip, which aims to give a continuous response to the humanitarian needs of the Gazan civilian population.
The systems are planned to supply good quality drinking water to 40,000 citizens, and were installed as part of a sewage water treatment project in the northern Gaza Strip, which is coordinated by the Gaza CLA in collaboration with the international bodies working in the Gaza Strip and the relevant Palestinian authorities.