Are Israel's new travel measures for Gazans a blessing or a curse?
Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip are hoping Israel's decision to ease travel procedures could be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Israel is promising to loosen the noose on Palestinians wishing to travel from Gaza, but make no mistake, the noose is still there.
Gazans have suffered under an Israeli blockade since early 2006. There are only two border crossings, both of which are heavily restricted: the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing with Israel, north of the Gaza Strip, which is managed by Israeli authorities; and the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza, which Egyptian authorities have kept under near-constant closure. Gaza officials said in February that 25,000 Palestinians registered as urgent cases are waiting for passage there.
