Israel lifts 10-day blockade

Occupied Jerusalem: The Israeli military says it is lifting a blanket closure of the West Bank and Gaza it imposed for 10 days over the Jewish Passover holiday.

A military statement said the closure ended on Monday morning. It mainly affected the West Bank, since Gaza has been virtually sealed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power there last June.

The lockdown, imposed from April 18, barred Palestinians from entering Israel