Israel partially reopens two crossings in Gaza

Tuesday April 22, 2008 23:11 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources said today that Israel decided to partially reopen the Eritz checkpoint (Beit Hanoun crossing), to the north of Gaza Strip.

Eritz Checkpoint inn northern Gaza

The sources told Israel's radio that the reopening is meant to allow entry of scores of Gaza patients who are in need for medical treatment outside Gaza as well as several other foreign journalists, international staff and diplomats.

Also, the Israeli radio reported that the Sufa commercial crossing in southern Gaza Strip, was reopened on Tuesday after it has been closed following a cross border attack on Kerem Shalom crossing early this week.

The sources told the radio that at least 80 trucks, loaded with food items, crossed into Gaza today morning through the Sufa border crossing.

Israel has closed all Gaza's crossings strictly over the past two weeks, after three Palestinian groups carried out a cross-border attack on the eastern Gaza Strip fuel terminal of Nahal Auz, which lies under Israeli control.

The closure of crossing points have caused a sharp shortage of essential supplies like food and fuel, putting the coastal Strip on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, according to local Palestinian bodies such as the health ministry.

In a press release, faxed to press Tuesday, the Gaza's sole power plant declared it will be forced to shut down by tomorrow evening as it suffers lack of fuel, needed to generate electricity to the Gaza Strip.

Israel enforced a total closure on the coastal territory, following the Hamas's takeover of the region in June2007. In October of the same year, Israel began allowing reduced shipments of fuel to the Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

gaza strip | miscellaneous | news report rami at imemc dot org