Israel announced Sunday that it will close the Gaza Strip’s sole border crossing, Erez crossing, for workers in response to rocket fire, but will refrain from retaliatory strikes in an apparent bid to defuse tensions.
On Friday night, Gaza launched two rockets at southern Israel; one struck the Jewish state, while the other missed and landed near a residential building in northern Gaza.
The army reported Saturday morning that a third rocket was fired at Israel, with no air raid sirens activated for any of the launches.
They came after rocket attacks on Wednesday and Thursday, during which Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters at Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring at least one man.
Ghassan Alyan, the Israeli government’s coordinator for Palestinian affairs, stated: “Following the firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip, we inform you that the Erez crossing will remain closed to workers and merchants on Sunday, with humanitarian and other cases continuing to be admitted.” Concerning the decision to reopen the crossing to workers and traders, an assessment of the situation will be made.”
Following last year’s war with Hamas, Israel gradually permitted 12,000 Palestinian workers and merchants to leave Gaza and work in Israel as part of a political settlement aimed at restoring calm in Gaza.
Israeli army radio reported that the Palestinians would lose approximately ILS5 million ($1.53 million) per day as a result of the workers’ inability to leave Gaza.
Israel and the Gaza Strip are separated by the Erez crossing, which Palestinians refer to as Beit Hanoun, with Hamas forces controlling travel procedures and Palestinian Authority employees coordinating with Israel.
Tensions have risen in Gaza over the last week as a result of Israeli incursions and violence at Al-Aqsa Mosque, but mediators have averted a large-scale escalation.
Employment in Israel is a lifeline for people in Gaza, where nearly half of the 2.3 million population is unemployed, according to AFP.
There are currently 12,000 Gazans in Israel with work permits, and the government recently announced plans to add another 8,000.
Over 200 people, mostly Palestinians, have been injured in the last week in clashes in and around Al-Aqsa.
Palestinians have expressed outrage over Israel’s massive police deployment and repeated visits to the holy site by Jews.
Saturday morning prayers were conducted without incident, with approximately 16,000 Muslims in attendance, according to Israeli officials.
Al-Aqsa is Islam’s third holiest site and the holiest site in Judaism, where it is referred to as the Temple Mount.
Israel, on the other hand, is bracing for additional violence.
The unrest in Jerusalem has sparked outrage among Israel’s Arab population, with hundreds marching in support of Al-Aqsa mosque in the Arab-Israeli city of Umm Al-Fahm.
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