Israel Collectively Punishes 1.5 Million People in Gaza in Response to Small Projectile

Israel seals Gaza Strip's borders in response to projectile

Date: 12 / 08 / 2008 Time: 10:17
Gaza – Ma’an –

The Israeli occupation government closed all of its border crossings with the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to a small homemade projectile that landed in the Israeli border town of Sderot on Monday.

The Israeli occupation government defense minister Ehud Barak made the decision to close the crossings. Hamas, leader of the Gaza Strip's de facto government, called the move "meaningless," arguing that all of the crossings were effectively closed already.

The Israeli occupation government opened the Nahal Oz and Sufa crossings only since 19 June, when an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire went into effect.

Following the implementation of the ceasefire, Israel allowed just 80 truckloads of food and basic supplies through the Sufa crossing into Gaza per day. In addition Israel continued to curtail shipments of fuel through the Nahal Oz crossing.

Israel closes Gaza crossings

Tuesday August 12, 2008 10:53 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli occupation government defense minister, Ehud Barak, ordered on Tuesday the closure of Gaza crossings, following what Israel said a homemade shell fire onto the nearby Israeli town of Sderot.

The ruling Hamas party in Gaza downplayed the decision, considering it devalued, for what Hamas believes that since June19, Israel has only allowed limited shipments of goods, commodities and fuel into the coastal region.

In June19, Israel and the ruling Hamas reached a ceasefire deal, brokered by Egyptian officials. The deal stipulates that Israel lifts the blockade gradually while the Gaza-based resistance factions, involving Hamas, stop homemade shells fire from Gaza onto Israel.

Abu Yousuf, local leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs brigades, an off shoot of Fat'h party of President Mahmoud Abbas, called for reconsidering the ceasefire deal and keeping united in the face of the 'Israeli aggression'.

The Gaza Strip's 1.5 million residents are still lacking large quantities of essential supplies like cooking gas, Benzene, gasoline and raw materials, despite the truce deal, as Israel used to allow about 80 trucks of various goods since June19, less than quarter of the Strip's actual need

Israel enforced a debilitating closure on the coastal territory, following Hamas's seizure of the region in June2007, amidst factional fighting with Fatah party of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Projectile fired from Gaza lands in Sderot

Date: 11 / 08 / 2008 Time: 19:56
Bethlehem – Ma'an -

A small homemade projectile fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli border town of Sderot on Monday afternoon.

Israeli media reported that the projectile landed in a field in a residential area of the town at 4:15pm local time. No one was injured, and no material damage was caused.

The rocket was an apparent violation of a Hamas-Israel ceasefire that went into effect on 19 June.

No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Israel says it would shut Gaza Crossing on Tuesday in response to Qassam shells

Tuesday August 12, 2008 00:39 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources reported on Monday that the Israeli occupation government would shut all border crossings in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday in response to a Qassam shell (allegedly) fired from the Gaza Strip into adjacent Israeli areas.

Military sources in Israel said that a Qassam homemade shell was fired on Monday and hit an area near the Negev town of Sderot. The shell landed in an open area causing no damage or injuries.

The decision to shut down the order crossing was announced by the Israeli Defense Ministry later on Monday.

This would be the third time Israel closed the crossing since the fragile truce was declared between the two sides on June 19.

Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Raed Fattouh, a Palestinian official in charge of the coordination of the delivery of supplies into Gaza, stated that he was notified by Israeli officials that no goods or supplies would be allowed into Gaza on Tuesday.

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