Hamas eases restrictions after ‘assassination’

GAZA: After the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior closed off all of the Gaza Strip’s land and sea borders on Sunday and imposed a fierce security crackdown across the besieged coastal enclave, the ministry has announced that certain individuals would be permitted to exit through the Palestinian side of the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, the only land crossing for people between Gaza and Israel.

The measures came amid ongoing investigations by security forces in Gaza into the killing of Hamas leader and former prisoner of Israel Mazen Fuqahaa in Gaza City on Friday.

Hamas has branded this action as an assassination by Israel.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Iyad al-Buzm said in a statement that, starting yesterday until further notice, passage for medical patients, family members of Palestinian prisoners travelling to visit their relatives in Israeli prisons, women of all ages, boys under the age of 15, men above the age of 45, and three Palestinian Authority ministers would be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip through Erez.

Entering Gaza from Israel would be allowed for all.

The announcement came as an easing of measures imposed on Sunday morning, when Gaza authorities were only permitting humanitarian cases passage outside of the territory. Ma’an