Israel mulls over increasing workers' permits to Palestinians in Gaza to avoid more conflict

According to an Israeli outlet, Israeli authorities are reportedly discussing increasing the number of work permits for Palestinian workers in the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza to avoid more conflict with the territory. 

The Israeli Kan channel reported on Tuesday, 1 August, that "the Israeli government is considering increasing the number of work permits for Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who wish to work in the occupied territories."

The channel claimed that the number of permits is currently at "a record level", and Israel wants to increase the number "to improve the economic situation" in the Gaza Strip. 

"Such concessions were made to the Americans in the talks that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held with US President Joe Biden and other senior officials," the channel said. 

Despite Hamas praising the military operations against the Israelis in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem,  the channel noted that the concessions are being seriously examined. 

It pointed out that the issue of concessions was raised about a month ago in a discussion with the prime minister, and a committee was convened to formulate recommendations regarding concessions to the Palestinian Authority. 

In October 2021, Israel allowed Palestinian workers from Gaza to apply for work permits in Israel for the first time since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007. 

In the past, around 120,000 Palestinians worked in Israeli cities in various sectors, including agriculture, construction, and automobile mechanics.