Israel closes Gaza's Kerem Shalom crossing, except for humanitarian aid
Kerem Shalom is Gaza’s main commercial crossing, and its closures by Israel are often a sign of heightened tensions with Hamas.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFA truck carrying cattle arrives at Kerem Shalom crossing after it was reopened by Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 21, 2018(photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
Israel has closed the Gaza’s Kerem Shalom crossing to all but essential humanitarian aid and fuel, in response to Hamas rocket fire and the launching of incendiary balloons at the country’s southern communities.“The decision was made due to the continued launching of incendiary balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israel,” the office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said.Kerem Shalom is Gaza’s main commercial crossing; its closures by Israel are often a sign of heightened tensions with Hamas.“The decision was made following security deliberations and in light of repeated terror attacks committed by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip against Israeli citizens, which is a violation of Israeli sovereignty,” COGAT said.Such violence “will first and foremost harm the residents of the Gaza Strip, its economic growth and the attempts to improve the civilian situation of its residents,” it said.“The IDF and the State of Israel will react forcefully and in an uncompromising manner to any violation of our sovereignty and to any threat imposed to our citizens,” COGAT warned.“Hamas is fully accountable for all that is done in the Gaza Strip, as well as for actions launched from Gaza against Israel," it said. "Hamas will therefore have to deal with the consequences of the violence committed against the citizens of Israel."Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Benny Gantz spoke about the situation in the South with the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He said Israel’s only interest in Gaza was in the maintenance of calm, as well as the return of two Israeli citizens and the remains of two soldiers held captive there.“We would be happy to see Gaza develop. I would also be happy to see workers from Gaza heading to Israel,” Gantz said.“This can happen on one condition – that our boys are returned home,” he said. “Once we see this, we can develop Gaza."
Hamas responded on Tuesday afternoon for the second time to Israel's decision to close down Kerem Shalom crossing, calling it an act of aggression, according to Ynet."The closure of the border crossing which would prevent from goods from entering Gaza is an act of aggression and a crime against two million Gaza inhabitants. Israel will be responsible for the consequences," stated the organization.Hamas has furthered asserted that "it is the right of our people to express their anger. The Palestinian resistance will never agree to imposing this new reality on its people."
