Israeli and Palestinian officials said Monday that Israel has briefly eased its tight blockade on the Gaza Strip to allow the shipment of cattle for a major Muslim holiday.
On Monday, 330 head of cattle were moved through a southern border crossing, said Gaza border official Raed Fattouh.
About 3,000 head of cattle began moving into Gaza last week as a gesture of goodwill in advance of the Eil al-Adha holiday. During the occasion, which will be marked later in November, Muslims traditionally feast on lamb and beef.
Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip after the militant Hamas group seized power in June 2007. Humanitarian aid and some limited commercial goods are generally the only things allowed into Gaza.
Most of the fresh meat in Gaza is smuggled into the area through tunnels under the border with Egypt, which also has an economic and travel blockade on the region.
