Facing internal criticism against the government's decision to ease the blockade on Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israeli parliament members on Monday that "over time, the effectiveness of the civilian siege has dropped," and the blockade "gave Hamas a PR advantage."
Israel's change of policy came after the May 31 incident, when Israeli navy commandos boarded a Gaza-bound pro-Palestinian international aid flotilla and killed nine activists on one of the ships.
The bloodshed brought about a chorus of criticism against Israel from the international community, who has since been pressuring the Jewish state to lift or ease the Gaza siege.
Since the deadly raid, pro-Palestinian groups have vowed to send more Gaza-bound aid ships.
"Israel will continue to make sure that all cargo reaching the Gaza Strip is checked, is examined," Regev said when asked what Israel's response would be to the ships coming in the future.
