The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Wednesday urged Israel to completely lift the Gaza blockade as Israel's security cabinet is scheduled to approve measures aimed to ease the siege at the same day.
"The issue is not related to easing the blockade, they are related to lifting it and breaking it in all means and by opening the crossing points
between Gaza and Israel," said Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator.
"All the needs of Gaza must be provided completely," Erekat told Voice of Palestine Radio, adding Israel has to allow trade between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The Israeli government has reviewed its policies regarding the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since three years ago when the Islamic Hamas
movement seized control of the enclave.
The government's security affairs cabinet is meeting Wednesday to approve decisions to allow more goods into Gaza.
"Easing the siege by increasing the number of truckloads that go to Gaza is irresponsible and unacceptable," Erekat said, noting the "collective
punishment" has taken toll on the Gaza population more than it has on Hamas.
International calls for studying the effectiveness of the closure have mounted since a deadly Israeli naval raid on a Gaza- bound flotilla in the
Mediterranean last month.