Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it granted a request to allow U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and European Union Chief of Foreign Relations Catherine Ashton to enter the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing during their upcoming visit to the region.
 

Until now, Israel has barred foreign diplomats from entering Gaza via Israel, insisting that the move would not only legitimize the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip but would also send the wrong message to IDF soldier Gilad Shalit’s captors, Israeli officials said.

Because of Israel’s policy, foreign dignitaries wishing to enter the Gaza Strip have done so via the Rafah crossing in Egypt.
 

A EU spokesman welcomed the decision saying “ as you know the high representative [Ashton] has expressed her wish to go to Gaza and has been in discussions with the Israeli authorities about facilitating the visit.”
The spokesman said that officials have yet to finalize Ashton’s itinerary and are in contact with Israeli government officials.

Ashton is expected to arrive in the Middle East next week, and visit Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.

The U.N. secretary general plans to visit towards the end of this month prior to attending an Arab summit in Libya.
 

Last month,  Israel refused to permit Ireland’s Foreign Minister Michael Martin and Belgian Cooperation and Development Minister Charles Michel from visiting Gaza.  Martin later entered via Egypt’s border crossing.
 

Following the bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in 2007, Israel imposed a blockade on the region, but permits daily truckloads of food, medication and other goods to enter, and restricts the entry of building materials and other construction materials, fearing it will be used by Hamas to strengthen its weapons arsenal and rebuild its infrastructure, rather than going towards refurbishing homes and buildings for the local population.