(JTA) — A U.N. official commended Israel for its "good will" following the Gaza Strip war.
"We have had good cooperation from the Israeli authorities in the last few weeks, actually paradoxically better than we had before the hostilities started," John Holmes, the U.N. humanitarian aid chief, said Friday in an interview with Reuters. "I’ve detected a spirit of good will on the Israeli side" to facilitate the transfer of medical supplies and food.
Israel shut down access to the Gaza Strip in 2007 because of rocket attacks on southern Israel from the territory, controlled by the Hamas terrorist group. It agreed to open passages as part of a fragile cease-fire last June, but reneged once it became clear Hamas was using the lull to smuggle in advanced weapons.
Hamas suspended the cease-fire around Dec. 19 with a massive intensification of rocket attacks; Israel launched major operations on Dec. 27. Both sides declared a unilateral cease-fire last week.
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