Islam Times - Israel closes down Kerem Shalom border passage

Islam Times - Israel will shut the Gaza Strip's only functioning commercial crossing – the Kerem Shalom border terminal – for four days starting Thursday for the upcoming Jewish holidays, a Palestinian official has said.

"Israeli authorities decided to close the border crossing on Thursday and reopen it Sunday because of the Jewish holidays," Mounir al-Ghalban, administrator for the Palestinian side of the crossing said.

He warned of the likely negative effects of the closure on the Gaza Strip's food and fuel supplies.

"Border closures – even for one day – increase the suffering of the people of Gaza," al-Ghalban said.

This suffering was compounded, he added, by Israel's recent military onslaught on the coastal enclave, which finally ended with an August 26 cease-fire deal signed by Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in Cairo.

An average of 500 to 700 trucks go through the border crossing every day, bringing food and much needed to supply to already suffering Gazans. The ban will undoubtedly generate much distress and aggravated pain on Palestinians.