Israel authorises new palestinian housing in gaza

Israel has authorized construction of 1,200 new homes for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in what would be one of the largest housing projects in the troubled seaside territory in years, military authorities said Tuesday.

The body that coordinates Israeli activities in the Palestinian areas said it has authorized the construction of the 1,200 homes, as well as 18 badly needed schools, in Southern Gaza.

Israel, which controls the cargo crossings into Gaza, has largely banned the entry of construction materials into the coastal strip since Hamas militants seized control of the area in 2007. Israel fears items like cement, metal and glass could be used for military purposes by Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Gaza's construction needs are dire, especially following an Israeli military offensive against Hamas two and a half years ago. The United Nations estimates that 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed during the three-week operation.

Source: Google.com