BICOM

The Kerem Shalom border crossing was partially reopened yesterday to allow food, medicine, gas and fuel to be transported into Gaza.

Israeli authorities will continue to prohibit the importation of construction material and all exports from Gaza remain banned.

Announcing his decision to reopen the crossing, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “We completed our assessment regarding the transfer of goods through Kerem Shalom. The residents of Gaza must understand that as long as there are incendiary balloons and fires, things won’t go back to normal for them … the key is quiet, calm, zero rockets or, god forbid, gunfire.”

In a video message addressed to the people of Gaza, he said: “You can choose between poverty and unemployment, or work and livelihood. Between hate and spilled blood, or coexistence and personal security.”

There has been a significant decrease in flying firebombs launched by Hamas into Israeli territory since a ceasefire was agreed last weekend and Hamas has also limited violent activity on the border.

The Kerem Shalom crossing was closed eight days ago after a dramatic escalation of fires in southern Israel caused by incendiary kites and balloons.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli jet yesterday attacked a group who were launching incendiary balloons towards Israel. The strike followed the spread of a large fire close to the Israeli community of Nahal Oz. Palestinian sources reported one person was wounded and in a moderate condition and two suffered mild injuries.