There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told reporters Friday, following a meeting with his Maltese counterpart Tonio Borg, DPA reported.
Israel's blockade only served to halt arms entering the Palestinian territory, the minister said, adding that the real problem in Gaza was that it was controlled by the militant Islamist group Hamas.
"There are expensive restaurants in Gaza which are always full. You can also see people with iPhones," Lieberman said.
The minister also said that Israel had launched an inquiry into a shooting in Gaza last April in which a Maltese national was injured.
"Israel regrets situations where civilians are injured," he said.
The Maltese government had protested to Israel when the activist, Bianca Zammit, was shot in the leg as she rallied in support of Palestinian farmers.
Lieberman was welcomed with a protest outside the prime minister's office when he arrived for an official visit to the EU's smallest state on Thursday. Protesters unfurled a large Palestinian flag and shouted out "terrorist" at the right-wing minister.