Israel closes sole commercial crossing with Gaza

Israel announced yesterday evening the full closure of Kerem Shalom Crossing, the only commercial crossing with the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.

Israeli news website Ynet News reported that the crossing was closed in response to the continuous flying of kites from Gaza into Israel.

At the same time, Egypt announced temporary closure of the Rafah Crossing, the main terminal for Gaza residents to the world.

Gaza has been under a 12-year Israeli and Egyptian siege and all crossings have been closed completely for years.

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Recently, Israel allowed the entry of some 300 to 400 truckloads of supplies to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, 60 days ago, until yesterday Rafah had been opening the Rafah Crossing every day except Fridays and Saturdays.

Last Monday Israeli authorities reduced the number of truckloads entering Gaza to less than 150, as well as reducing the fishing zone from nine to six nautical miles.

Head of the Popular Committee For Breaking the Siege MP Jamal Al-Khodary said that last Monday’s closure of the crossings paralysed the already dilapidated economy in Gaza and led to the closure of a number of factories. Before Monday 500 factories had already been closed.

Al-Khodary said that Israel blocks more than 1,000 Palestinian trucks inside the crossing or in its ports, noting that it collects taxes from them.