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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT
Israel closes sole people crossing with Gaza after riot: army
JERUSALEM, Sept 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Israeli army said Wednesday it was
closing its sole crossing for people with the Gaza Strip following a riot
there, just 10 days after it reopened it.
“Yesterday a violent riot was instigated in the area of the Erez crossing,
with the participation of hundreds of Palestinian rioters,” the army said in
a statement.
“Subsequently, it was decided to close the Erez crossing until the damage
caused by the rioters will be repaired.”
The Palestinians were protesting against an announcement by Washington on
Friday that it would cease all funding to the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) which helps some three million needy
refugees.
The army said the Palestinians had damaged the infrastructure of the
crossing on the Gaza side with rocks.
It said the crossing would remain open for “individually approved
humanitarian cases”.
Israel reopened Erez on August 27 after an 11-day closure following
previous clashes, as part of its policy of easing its decade-long air, land
and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip when calm is maintained.
The sole goods crossing between Israel and Gaza, Kerem Shalom, remains
open.
There have been months of tension along the border and several military-
flare ups, but recent weeks have seen relative calm.
Egyptian and United Nations officials have been mediating indirect
negotiations on a long-term truce between Israel and Gaza’s Islamist rulers
Hamas, who have fought three wars since 2008.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1422 hrs