Israel has eased its five-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, allowing truckloads of building materials for private use to cross into the Palestinian territory in recent days.

The materials purchased in Egypt are part of $400 million in projects Qatar has pledged for Gaza.

Israel imposed the blockade in 2007 after the militant group Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. It later eased some restrictions, but retained controls on building materials.

Smugglers have brought building materials and other supplies into Gaza through a network of tunnels under the Egyptian border.