31.   Under international pressure Israel has slightly eased the blockade to allow food supplies into Gaza, but rigorous security checks have kept the flow of goods to a minimum.

32.   Powell also urged Israel to take steps to ease its blockade of the Palestinian territories.

33.   Palestinian police would collect all illegal weapons while Israel would ease the blockade it has imposed on Palestinian towns and cities.

34.   Since July, Israel has gradually eased the blockade to relieve the economic problems it caused for the Palestinian Authority.