Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Israeli forces enter Gaza, briefly close border

Published Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Israeli troops entered the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, sealing the Erez border crossing between the territory and Israel, Hamas officials said.

"Occupation forces moved into the northern Gaza Strip and began bulldozing work and closed the Erez crossing to travelers," a statement from the Hamas interior ministry said.

Witnesses told AFP that two Israeli bulldozers accompanied by three tanks had moved into the area and were operating in fields there.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the report, and the Israeli civil administration responsible for the Erez border crossing said it had no information on its reported closure.

An official at the crossing told AFP that it had opened late, but was now operating normally.

Israeli troops regularly carry out brief incursions into the Gaza Strip, despite formally withdrawing from the area in 2005.

Israel has also carried out a series of airstrikes on Gaza in recent months, while military officials have threatened a new full-scale invasion of the territory.

Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said in December that Israel should initiate a new "swift and painful" war against the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has previously said it will maintain restraint, despite what it says are Israeli attempts to instigate a conflict.

Israel has blockaded the Gaza Strip since 2006, while maintaining a military occupation of the West Bank.

(Al-Akhbar, AFP)


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