Qassam Prompts Israel to Reclose Gaza Crossings

by Reuters
Haaretz
July 4, 2008

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/248/qassam-prompts-israel-to-reclose-gaza-crossings

Gaza Strip militants fired a rocket at Sderot yesterday, prompting Israel to order an early weekend closure of its border crossings with the Hamas-ruled territory, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket attack, the sixth since an Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas took effect on June 19.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the rocket landed in an open field near Sderot and caused no casualties.

Second punitive closure since lull

"Because of the rockets being fired today, the crossings will be closed tomorrow," said Peter Lerner, a defense official.

The crossings are generally closed from Friday afternoon to Sunday.

Israel has responded to previous rocket salvoes by closing border crossings used to bring supplies into the Gaza Strip, which Hamas Islamists seized from President Mahmoud Abbas' more secular Fatah forces a year ago.

The crossings were closed on Tuesday following a similar rocket attack. They reopened on Wednesday.

Related Topics:  Militant Islam, Palestinian Rockets  |  Reuters receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free jewish policy center mailing list