Israeli restrictions 'preventing Gaza unity govt meeting'

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Ministers of the new Palestinian unity government are planning a cabinet meeting in the Gaza Strip, but Israel continues to deny them permits to travel, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

Eyhab Bseiso told Ma'an that the ministers want to meet in Gaza to discuss the situation in the blockaded Strip, but that Israel has revoked the VIP status of Palestinian government members.

Meanwhile, four members of the new unity government still have not been officially sworn into office, given that Israel rejected their requests to travel to Ramallah for Monday's inauguration ceremony, Bseiso said.

He said the government is trying to find a legal way for Gaza ministers to be sworn in despite Israeli restrictions.

The four Gaza-based ministers are Mamoon Abu Shahla as minister of labor, Haifa al-Agha as minister of women's affairs, Mufeed al-Hasayna as minister of housing and public works, and Salim al-Saqqa as minister of justice. more

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