After Hamas’s Self-Restraint, Gaza Crossings Reopened

After Hamas’s “self-restraint” over the weekend, as the IDF stated after Friday’s riots at the Gaza border fence, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has authorized the reopening of crossings from Israel into Gaza. Trucks will be able to bring into Gaza all authorized goods, including diesel fuel for Gaza’s power plant.

The crossings were closed last week after a rocket hit a house in Be’er Sheva, badly damaging it. Meeting after that event, the security cabinet authorized more aggressive action against Hamas, MKs and ministers said Thursday. According to reports, the ministers ordered the IDF to “gradually increase” its responses to Gaza border fence rioting, balloon terror, tire burning, and the other phenomena that have accompanied the recent increase in Gaza terror.

On Friday, over 16,000 Gaza Arabs rioted at the border, but in a statement, the IDF said that “as opposed to the situation in recent weeks, most of the rioters remained in the interior of Gaza and did not reach the security fence. Hamas attempted to restrain its actions.”

Arab media reports cited by Channel 20 said that there were numerous attempts by Gaza Arabs to breach the border fence over the weekend. In one breach attempt Friday, Gaza Arabs entered Israeli territory, stole some items, and ran back to Gaza. On Shabbos, Gaza Arabs sent off numerous balloons with incendiary devices attached. At least five fires were reported in the border area, attributed to the balloon attacks.