By Xinhua,
Gaza : Israel on Wednesday reopened three commercial crossings into Gaza after a one-day closure due to a Palestinian rocket attack, Israeli sources said.
“Erez, Nahal Oz and Sofa crossings will be reopened this morning to send goods to Gaza after one day of closure because of the rocket attack on Sderot city the day before yesterday,” an Israeli army spokesperson told the Israeli radio.
Since Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Gaza Strip on June 19, Israel used to shut down the commercial crossings in response to the rocket attacks, either by factions opposing the Hamas-Israel deal or by traders who fear the easing of the sanctions will harm their business based on smuggled goods.
Hamas is committed to the deal and, on several occasions, arrested people who violated the ceasefire. The deal was meant to end the violence and ease the blockade which Israel imposed on Gaza in the middle of last year when Hamas violently seized the territory.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians said that Israel will allow more kinds of products to enter the Gaza Strip soon. After the ceasefire, Israel increased the amount of food products sent to the impoverished enclave.
“We were promised that the amounts of clothes and shoes would be increased,” said Jihad Sleem, a spokesman for a firm which receives the imported goods.
“Starting next week, Israel will allow wood, raw materials for producing plastics, oil, spare parts and several kinds of materials which were banned from entering Gaza,” Sleem added.
But Sleem said the number of truckloads that passed through the crossings did not change. “Israel allows 60 truckloads every day, excluding these which carry fruits and dairy products … they add new products at the expense of other products.”
On Wednesday, Israel announced it will open Kerem Shalom commercial crossing in southeast Gaza Strip. The crossing has been closed since Hamas militants attacked it several months ago.