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Israel reopens people, goods crossings to Gaza after lull
JERUSALEM, Oct 21, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Israel ordered the country’s goods and
people border crossings with Gaza to be opened on Sunday, just four days
after shuttering them following a Palestinian rocket attack that sparked
retaliatory strikes.
The move followed efforts to prevent an escalation in ongoing violence that
has raised fears of a new war between Israel and the Palestinian territory’s
Islamist rulers Hamas.
“The decision comes after a decrease in the violent events in Gaza over the
weekend and efforts Hamas made to restrain” demonstrators, a statement from
Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s office read.
On Wednesday, Lieberman had ordered the closure of the Kerem Shalom goods
crossing and the Erez crossing for people, after a rocket from the
Palestinian territory hit a home in southern Israel, prompting the Jewish
state to strike 20 Hamas targets in Gaza.
Hamas disavowed the launch and said it was investigating the incident, as
alarm over a potential broader conflict rose.
Near daily protests along the Gaza border since March 30 against Israel’s
crippling 11-year blockade of the impoverished enclave have sparked repeated
clashes with the army.
More than 200 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed in the
violence.
On Friday, thousands again gathered for protests in northern Gaza, but
demonstrators largely remained at least 100 metres (yards) from the border.
An Israeli army spokesman told AFP that while most of the protesters stayed
back from the fence, some came close and threw explosive devices and hand
grenades at troops, while burning tyres.
At least 130 Palestinians were injured by live fire in clashes with Israeli
soldiers, the Gaza health ministry said.
Hamas officials were seen discouraging protesters from nearing the fence.
Israel had on Wednesday also suspended the delivery of fuel for the
Palestinian territory’s power plant that had been trucked daily into Gaza
under a deal brokered by the United Nations.
“The decision on the renewal of the fuel from Qatar has been put off as for
the time being, and will be examined in a number of days based on the
events,” the Sunday statement from Lieberman said.
An Egyptian security delegation that visited the Gaza Strip on Thursday had
encouraged Hamas leader Ismail Haniya to calm the protests, according to an
Egyptian official. On Friday, United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov also
urged all sides “to exercise restraint, to proceed in a peaceful manner, and
to avoid escalation”.
Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008 and fears of a fourth
have spurred efforts by Egypt and the United Nations for a wider deal that
would see Israel ease its blockade in exchange for a long-term truce with the
Islamists.
BSS/AFP/GMR/1203 hrs