Gaza crossing reopens as truce talks continue

Israel opened its only cargo crossing with the Gaza Strip yesterday, weeks after closing it amid a surge in violence from the Islamic militants Hamas.

The reopening of Kerem Shalom, the main commercial crossing, came as Egypt stepped up efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire. It was not clear if the action was part of a broader deal in the pipeline.

Avigdor Lieberman, the defence minister, said the move is a “message to residents [that] violence doesn’t pay.”