Israel’s occupation army said late Monday it would reopen the commercial Karm Abu Salem crossing into Gaza on Tuesday morning, partially restoring aid flows after shutting all crossings over what it described as regional escalation linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The reopening follows a two-day closure that halted the main commercial entry point for humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza. Israeli authorities had also suspended operations at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, citing security concerns tied to the broader military confrontation involving Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran.
The occupation army’s coordinator said aid trucks would enter based on needs identified by the United Nations and international organizations, and would do so gradually under what it described as security restrictions to ensure “the safety of all those present at the crossing on both sides.”
The closures drove a noticeable rise in prices of basic goods inside Gaza and shortages of some vegetables and fruit, as traders feared the shutdown could drag on, prompting residents to buy larger-than-usual quantities in anticipation of shortages if the war continues.
In a Facebook post addressing Gaza’s residents, the occupation government’s coordination unit, COGAT, accused Hamas of “seizing humanitarian aid,” saying it would keep aid “intended directly for you” from reaching the group.
COGAT announced late Sunday that it was closing all Gaza crossings, including the Rafah land crossing with Egypt, citing security considerations tied to the escalation of the regional military confrontation linked to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The shutdown also halted patient travel through Rafah, again stranding those seeking medical treatment abroad. The crossing had only partially reopened in February after being closed for more than a year and a half.
In an earlier statement, COGAT claimed the closures “would not affect the humanitarian situation,” even as it halted travel through the Rafah crossing, including stopping patients from leaving and returning, despite its partial reopening in February after a closure that lasted more than a year and a half.
Israeli authorities agreed to reopen Rafah in early February after the United States announced the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, allowing limited numbers of patients and their companions to travel, and a similar number of stranded people to return, amid tight Israeli security measures and reports that some returnees were detained for hours and abused.
