The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, is aiming to visit the Gaza Strip at the end of next week, officials said Wednesday, DPA reported
Israel normally shuts off the Palestinian enclave from international contact because it is run by Hamas, a militant Islamist group recognised as a terrorist organisation by the EU and the US.
"Ashton is travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories and has asked to re-enter Gaza in the same spirit as her previous visit in March," an EU source told the German Press Agency dpa.
"Indications from Israeli authorities are positive," the official added, indicating that Ashton's Middle East visit is planned for July 17-19.
The EU's foreign policy supremo had already won permission from Israel to visit Gaza in March, the same month United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was allowed to enter.
Ashton's trip would be separate from a planned mission of Italian, French, British, German and Spanish foreign ministers, who earlier this week accepted an invitation from Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman to visit Gaza.
It would also take place against a backdrop of renewed efforts to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the only internationally-recognised Palestinian interlocutor, based in the West Bank.
Since its late-May attack on a flotilla attempting to bring aid to Gaza, which resulted in nine dead, Israel has faced strong international pressure to relax its economic and political embargo.
On Monday, Israeli authorities published a "negative list" of forbidden items for the territory, covering military and "dual use" equipment which could be used for both civilian and bellicose purposes.
The move, which was welcomed as "a significant step forward" by Ashton, represents a shift away from a more restrictive policy, whereas Israel would block all imports to Gaza except goods listed on a specific "positive list."