Israel to allow Karni crossing to operate longer hours

A second shift would be employed enabling the crossing to be open until 23:00. The new working hours will increase productivity and enable 900 trucks to go through
 
Mr. Gabi Ofir Director General, Israel Airports Authority instructed last week the opening of the Karni crossing for longer hours to allow more lorries enter the Gaza Strip. In a press release Ofir noted that following an Israeli-Palestinian agreement to expand traffic at the vital passage, operations at the Gaza Strip crossing have been extended by at least five hours a day for a trial period.
 
He added that a second shift would be employed enabling the crossing to be open until 23:00.
 
Karni is critical for the Palestinian economy because it is the only conduit for Palestinian exports and the main gateway for goods entering Gaza. Its repeated closure has caused hardships for ordinary Palestinians, who reported food shortages, as well as for farmers and merchants.
 
The new working hours will increase productivity and enable 900 trucks to go through , 750 trucks going in and 150 going out of the strip.
 
In 2006 the crossing wasted some full 100 working days due to closures and security threats that had choked the traffic.
 
Palestinian officials confirmed that the extended hours began on a trial basis last week, and expressed hope it would become permanent.