Israel on Monday said it will allow the UN secretary general and the European Union's foreign policy chief to enter the Gaza Strip.
The Foreign Ministry said it would enable the entry of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton into Gaza, following their requests to visit the territory. Monday's statement said the decision was made to allow the dignitaries"to get a first hand impression of humanitarian activities takingplace" in Gaza.
Israel has routinely banned foreign officials from crossing into Gaza since Hamas' violent takeover of the strip in 2007, maintaining that such visits bolster the terror group. Officials can enter Gaza from Egypt.
