Israel reopens Gaza crossings

Trucks are seen at the commercial border crossing Karam Abu Salem after Israel re-opened Karam Abu Salem and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossings, in Gaza City, Gaza on 12 May 2019. [Abed Rahim Khatib – Anadolu Agency]

The Kerem Shalom and the Erez crossings in the besieged Gaza Strip were reopened by Israeli authorities yesterday morning, a week after they were closed indefinitely.

There are three crossings into the besieged Gaza Strip; two are controlled by Israel and one by Egypt. The Gaza-Israel crossings are the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, that is specifically for pedestrians, and Kerem Shalom (Karam Abu Salem) in the southern Gaza Strip for the entry of goods and fuel. The Gaza-Egypt crossing is the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but is often closed and lacks infrastructure for it to be a main commercial crossing.

The Israeli escalation, which started on 4 May and lasted nearly three days, claimed the lives of 27 Palestinians, including an infant, toddler, and two pregnant mothers. At least 154 others were injured. In addition, four Israelis were killed.

Israeli warplanes carried out about 320 air strikes across Gaza.

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