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Israel to re-open Erez crossing with Gaza after 8-year closure
Israel has announced that the border crossing with the Gaza Strip will be re-opened to commercial traffic, increasing the volume of goods entering Gaza.
Israel closed the Erez crossing to commercial traffic, limiting entry to pedestrians, in 2008 as part of a partial blockade to prevent Hamas from importing materials and goods used for armaments and military infrastructure. Israeli authorities have subsequently intercepted illicit goods on numerous occasions at the Kerem Shalom crossing, where some 800 trucks enter Gaza daily.
On Monday a spokesman for Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon said that the Erez crossing will be re-opened, in part to relieve pressure on traffic at Kerem Shalom. However, a statement also explained “It is our interest that Gazans live in dignity. Both from a humanitarian point of view and because this is a way to protect the peace, in addition to existing security deterrents.”
The spokesman gave no specific date for re-opening Erez, but said it “will not happen tomorrow or the day after.” He added that the decision to re-open Erez had been taken partly in recognition that the ceasefire which brought an end to Operation Protective Edge in 2014 is broadly holding, despite periodic rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
Easing access to Gaza is one of the major sticking points in current talks between Israeli and Turkish officials as they look to finalise a reconciliation agreement between the two countries and restore bilateral ties. However, it is thought that Egypt is concerned over such a prospect, as it too imposes restrictions on entry into Gaza, with an almost complete closure of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula.
Meanwhile, YNet says Israel is also expected to renew cement supplies for private construction in Gaza in the coming days. It was halted last month after Hamas attempted to seize cement intended for civilian building, possibly to construct underground tunnels to attack Israel. Yesterday, the Islamic Jihad terror group said one of its fighters had been killed in an explosion in Gaza, which may have been part of an effort to dig such tunnels.