Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Israel to Ease Gaza Blockade VOA News 17 June 2010 United Nations trucks carrying supplies cross into Rafah town through the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip, 16 Jun 2010 Photo: AFP United Nations trucks carrying supplies cross into Rafah town through the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip, 16 Jun 2010 Israel says it will ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip and allow more humanitarian aid into the territory. Israeli Cabinet ministers Thursday approved a plan outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair. That plan significantly expands the list of goods Israel permits into Gaza, including cement and steel for construction projects sponsored by the United Nations. Items that could be used to manufacture weapons would still be prohibited. The changes only affect goods entering Gaza by land. Israel's naval blockade remains unchanged. Syria's leader says Israel's deadly raid last month on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has destroyed any chance for peace in the near future. President Bashar Assad tells the BBC the raid has raised the risk of war in the region. On Wednesday, a special Israeli commission set up to investigate the aid flotilla raid convened for the first time. The committee's chairman, retired Israeli Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel, said he hopes the panel will finish its investigation as soon as possible. The Turkish government formed its own committee to investigate the May 31 raid. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the panel will assess the raid's national and international dimensions and prepare the ground for a possible international investigation. Israel has faced intense international pressure to end its three-year economic blockade of Gaza, since Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists after boarding one of the convoy's vessels. The Turkish charity that helped organize the flotilla said Wednesday it would send another six ships at the end of July in an attempt to break the blockade.  Israeli media reported Wednesday that Israel has added the charity, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, to its terrorism watch list. Israel and several Western countries say the charity has links to Muslim militants, which the group denies. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .