Consumer goods:

There is no limit on the quantity and types of consumer goods that can be imported into Gaza via Israel. The border crossings have a capacity of 800 trucks a day, in order to meet all of Gaza's import demands. Every single day, about 550 truckloads of goods, carrying everything from foodstuffs to vehicles, pass into Gaza from Israel.

Israel is currently investing approximately USD 10 million to further expand the capacity of its border crossings, from 800 to 1,000 trucks a day, to meet potential growth in demand.

The only import restrictions are on weapons and a list of dual-use items which can be used in the production of weapons and terrorist infrastructure. Dual-use items can be imported into Gaza subject to a security screening.

The Gaza Strip has never had a deep-water port capable of handling commercial cargo ships. All of Gaza's trade has always been conducted through its border crossings with Israel and Egypt.

Since October 2014, nearly 6 million tons of industrial goods (mainly textile and furniture) and agricultural produce (including fish) were exported from Gaza via Israel, and marketed to the West Bank, to Israel and abroad.

Movement of people:

More than 14,000 entries of people from the Gaza Strip into Israel take place every month. This monthly figure includes many thousands of Gazan businessmen, pilgrims to the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, medical care patients and their escorts on their way to receive urgent medical treatment in Israel and non-urgent medical treatment in the West Bank, and many more.

Construction:

Nearly 1.3 million tons of construction materials have entered Gaza from Israel since October 2014, under the construction mechanism agreed by the UN, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. There are currently 367 ongoing construction projects initiated by international organizations, in various stages of implementation.

Since October 2014, about 90,000 Gazan households have purchased construction materials for private use.

Israel has taken measures to support construction in Gaza despite the major security risks these measures pose. In the past, Hamas has diverted massive amounts of aid and imported goods for use in its terrorist infrastructure. For instance, building materials worth tens of millions of dollars were diverted for the construction of Hamas’ cross-border assault tunnels, which were used to attack Israeli communities during the summer 2014 conflict. Hamas continues to pursue its efforts to rearm, expand its rocket arsenal and construct the infrastructure it plans to use in its next attack on Israel.

Source: COGAT