Israel eases Gaza food restrictions

Israel has lifted some of its bans on food imports into the Gaza Strip after widespread international criticism of its three-year blockade.

A Palestinian spokesman said soft drinks, juice, jam, spices, shaving cream, crisps, biscuits and sweets will now be allowed through.

Israel imposed the blockade after militant Hamas seized control of Gaza and has been under pressure to ease it following the deadly clash last week with pro-Palestinian activists on board the flotilla trying to breach it.

The move aims to defuse pressure for an international investigation of the raid but only narrowly expands the list of goods that can enter Gaza.

It also does not include the most-sought items, such as cement, steel and other materials needed to rebuild homes and infrastructure in the war-devastated strip.

But it is the first tangible step taken by Israel to temper the uproar.

The gesture is unlikely, however, to blunt the international criticism which has centred on the ban on raw materials and some fuels from entering Gaza, and the arbitrary nature of some of the banned items.