London, December 29, 2009 (Pal Telegraph)-The United Nation Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) called for opening Karni commercial crossing east of Gaza city and lifting the siege imposed on the coastal enclave.

During an interview with the UN Radio, UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness Tuesday said that the current situation in Gaza Strip is a blatant violation of international law and must be ended immediately.

"The Israeli blockade on the strip, he said, means preventing the entry of any reconstruction material, although 60,000 Palestinian houses were completely destroyed or badly damaged by the Israeli war on Gaza.

"Therefore, the UN agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees demands and repeats its calls for lifting the unjust blockade", he added.

Gunness pointed out that the problem in the coastal enclave is not the lack of sufficient funds to repair the damage caused by the war, but in the absence of international political will to lift the siege.

Although the international community occasionally protests Gaza's ongoing tragedy, no real pressure has been put on Israel to end its stranglehold on the enclave, he added.

The international community was working through Karni crossing, and the Israeli security concerns were the main reason for adopting the policy of closure, the relief official said.

Source: Jordan News Agency - Petra