Arab League chief to visit Gaza

The Palestinian Hamas movement that runs the Gaza Strip says it is preparing for a visit by Arab League Chief Amr Moussa to the Israeli-blockaded territory.

Moussa’s visit is expected to take place within the next few days as part of an effort to put an end to the Israeli siege of the impoverished Gaza Strip that has been severely stepped up since 2007.

Israel allows a very small amount of fuel and food aid to trickle into the deprived territory, as at least half of the enclave’s 1.5 million residents are dependent on food aid handouts.

Tel Aviv also prevents Gaza from accessing construction materials needed for the reconstruction of the infrastructure and buildings largely devastated during Israel’s 22-day offensive against the territory in December 2008.

The Arab League secretary general will have to enter the strip through the Rafah border crossing — the only terminal not controlled by Israel, yet kept closed by Egypt in line with the Israeli siege.

Cairo opened the crossing after Israel’s deadly attack on a Gaza-bound aid convoy last Monday that killed at least nine international activists onboard the fleet.