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Around 18,000 Gazans have permits from Israeli authorities to
work outside the blockaded enclave, providing an injection of
cash amounting to some $2 million a day to the impoverished
territory's economy.
The move comes amid stepped-up international efforts by Egypt
and the United Nations to defuse tensions and prevent a new
round of armed conflict in the enclave.
For around two weeks, protesters throwing stones and explosive
devices have faced off against Israeli troops who have responded
with live fire, killing at least one man and wounding dozens
more.
Protests on Wednesday were less intense, and so was the Israeli
response. A Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts
told Reuters the development came "upon the request of mediators
to de-escalate tensions".
Desperate to go back to their jobs, workers began to flock to
the Palestinian side of the crossing soon after Israel made the
announcement late on Wednesday.
"We want to go to work and earn a living for our children
because the situation was too bad for us the past two weeks,"
said Khaled Zurub, 57, who works in construction in Israel.
Cogat, the Israeli Defence Ministry agency that coordinates with
the Palestinians, said security assessments would determine
whether the border remained open.
In an apparent sign of easing tensions, the so-called
"Revolutionary Youths" group, which has organised the protests
in past weeks, said in a statement it was suspending the
demonstrations after securing promises from mediators that
Israel would stop provocative measures in Jerusalem and in
prisons and ease up the Gaza blockades.
Hazem Qassem, a spokesman for the armed Islamist Hamas group
that rules Gaza and opposes peace deals with Israel, said Israel
was constantly violating Gazans' fundamental right to freedom of
movement with repeated border closures and the blockade of Gaza.
Israel blocks many goods from entering Gaza with Egyptian
backing, citing security concerns, and also reserves the right
to restrict exports.
According to IMF figures, per capita income in Gaza is only a
quarter of that of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West
Bank. The World Bank says unemployment is nearly 50%.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal AlmughrabiEditing by Ros
Russell)
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