The Security Cabinet decided to liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza

         Israel's security cabinet voted Thursday to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, following an international outcry over its deadly raid on a humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the Hamas-ruled territory. "It was agreed to liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza [and] to expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision," an official statement said, without specifying any product list. The announcement appeared to indicate that Israel would allow international organizations, such as the United Nations, to import previously banned building materials, vital to reconstruction after the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war. The security cabinet, which began its discussions on Wednesday on easing the embargo, noted that "existing security procedures to prevent the inflow of weapons and war materiel" would continue. The announcement made no mention of any lifting of Israel's sea blockade of the enclave, run by Hamas Islamists. Israel expects the international community to work toward the immediate release of Gilad Shalit. Israel faced mounting international calls to ease or lift its Gaza embargo following the killing by Israeli commandos of nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists during the interception at sea of an aid convoy on May 31. Israeli leaders said the troops acted in self-defense after being swarmed by activists who attacked them, and that the blockade is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas. Israel imposed the blockade soon after Hamas, which has rejected Western calls to recognize its right to exist, won a Palestinian legislative election in 2006. Restrictions were tightened after Hamas seized power in Gaza the following year. (12,04)