Israel reopens Gaza crossing

JERUSALEM: Israel reopened its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip yesterday, more than a week after shutting it following a destructive Palestinian protest.

The reopening follows several days of relative calm, as Egyptian and United Nations officials attempt to broker a long-term truce between Israel and Gaza’s Islamist rulers, Hamas.

A spokesman for the Israeli Defence Ministry unit that oversees the Erez crossing confirmed it had reopened yesterday.

On Sept 5, the army said hundreds of “rioters” vandalised the Gaza side of the crossing and that it would remain closed until the damage was repaired.

Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross.

An average of about 1,000 Gazans crossed through Erez each day, mostly those in need of medical care, but also businesspeople, students and others, Israeli authorities said. A second crossing with Israel, Kerem Shalom, is for goods only.

There have been months of tension along the border and several military flare-ups, but recent weeks have seen relative calm.

Activists have held regular protests along Gaza’s border with Israel since March 30, which have triggered frequent clashes with the army.

At least 176 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests began.