According to the media reports, Israel has drawn praise from U. S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders for easing its Gaza blockade.

Haaretz has reported that the White House called the move a "step in the right direction" Thursday while Tony Blair, the United Nations envoy to the Mideast, termed it a "good start."

Other officials, however, including another U. N. official and the European Union, expressed skepticism.

The new product list includes all food items, toys, stationery, kitchen utensils, mattresses and towels. The items on the food list had changed constantly.

Government and military officials told Haaretz that Israel also agreed to allow more construction materials for war damage repair through civilian projects under international supervision.

The security cabinet said in a statement after the meeting, "It was agreed to liberalize the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza (and) expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision."

Israel has come under heavy criticism since a confrontation May 31 between Israeli commandos and Gaza-bound humanitarian ships containing Turkish activists left nine activists dead.

The Obama administration wanted an "expansion of the scope and types of goods into Gaza ... while addressing, obviously, Israel's legitimate security needs," said U. S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner.

Easing the blockade could bolster efforts to reopen Gaza Strip border crossings with European and Palestinian participation, Blair has said.

It was also reported that Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, called on Israel to ensure "many, many more goods can get into Gaza" and said the EU could support Israel's easing the embargo with a mission on the ground.

Ashton said in Brussels, "I look with great interest at what the Israeli cabinet is saying. This is an in-principle statement …. Obviously the detail is what matters." (With Inputs from Agencies)