C O L U M N S

GAZA CITY: Israel is briefly easing its tight blockade of the Gaza Strip to ship in thousands of cattle ahead of Eidul Azha, Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Monday.

Around 3,000 heads of cattle began moving into Gaza last week in a goodwill gesture before the Eid holiday, according to Israel’s military spokesman Guy Inbar.

On Monday, 330 heads of cattle moved through a southern border crossing, said Gaza border official Raed Fattouh.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on Gaza after the militant group Hamas seized power in the coastal strip in June 2007. Generally only humanitarian aid and limited commercial goods are allowed in.

Most fresh meat in Gaza comes from traders who bring in livestock through smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt, which has also imposed its own economic and travel blockade on the seaside region.—AP