Israel to let UN chief, EU official into Gaza

By The Associated Press

Monday, March 8, 2010 at 12:32 p.m.

JERUSALEM — Israel says it will allow the U.N. secretary general and the European Union's foreign policy chief to enter the Gaza Strip.

Israel's Foreign Ministry says it would enable the entry of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton into Gaza, following their requests to visit the territory.

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 Islamic militant group. Officials can enter Gaza from Egypt.

Monday's statement says the decision was made to allow the dignitaries "to get a first hand impression of humanitarian activities taking place" in Gaza.