Israel closes Gaza borders after days of Palestinian rocket attacks

Hamas fighters at a rally marking the 30th anniversary of their group
Hamas fighters at a rally marking the 30th anniversary of their group Credit: AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra

Israel sealed the entrances and exits to Gaza on Thursday after a week of rocket fire from Palestinian militants in the wake of Donald Trump’s announcement on Jerusalem

Palestinian factions have fired rockets from Gaza on five of the seven days since the US president’s Jerusalem speech, prompting Israeli forces to use the Iron Dome missile defence system and carry out air strikes in retaliation. 

Two Palestinian fighters have been killed so far, and the shooting exchanges have been the most serious in since the 2014 Gaza war and raised fears that the two sides may stumble into a full-blown conflict.   

Israel closed the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings on Thursday in response the shooting, leaving the two million people of Gaza completely cut off from the world and halting deliveries of food and fuel. 

As well as the two-Israeli controlled border crossings, Gaza also has a southern border crossing with Egypt at Rafah, which is almost always closed.  

Palestinian Hamas supporters attend a Rally marking the 30th anniversary of Hamas movement, in Gaza City
Palestinian Hamas supporters attend a Rally marking the 30th anniversary of Hamas movement, in Gaza City

The crossings may open on Friday or else will stay closed until at least Sunday. 

Israeli officials believe the rockets are being fired by Islamic Jihad, a smaller faction, with the tacit permission of Hamas, the Islamist militant group which controls Gaza. 

Israeli policy is to hold Hamas responsible for any rockets from Gaza and Israeli strikes have targeted Hamas outposts. 

Two Hamas fighters were killed last week and on Wednesday night Israel reportedly struck a naval site and a military base. “The Israeli Defence Forces hold the Hamas terror organisation responsible for the poverty, destruction and despair amongst the citizens of the Gaza Strip,” a spokesman said. 

One misfired Palestinian rocket struck a school inside Gaza, the Israeli military said. 

Thousands of people gathered in central Gaza to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hamas’ founding. "We demand the Islamic world make every Friday a day of anger and revolution in every capital and city until we bring down Trump's decision," said Ismail Haniya, Hamas’ leader.

Head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, left, and Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar, wave during a rally.
Head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, left, and Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar, wave during a rally. Credit: AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra

While leaders of Islamic countries have put out strongly-worded statements on Mr Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem, they have taken little action and protests around the Middle East have been muted

The Palestinians have said they will no longer accept any US role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process but the Arab world’s main powers - Egypt and Saudi Arabia - remain supportive of Mr Trump’s efforts to reach what he calls the “ultimate deal”.  

Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, said that Riyadh was still looking to the US to lead the efforts at brokering Israeli-Palestinian peace, despite Palestinian statements that they would refuse to accept any US role in the process. 

"We believe the Trump administration is serious about bringing peace between Israelis and Arabs," said Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister.

The White House is expected to unveil its peace proposals early next year and it is unclear if the Palestinians will be able to resist American and Saudi pressure to return to the negotiating table. 

Mike Pence, the US vice president, is due to travel to the Middle East next week for meetings with the Egyptians and the Israelis. The Palestinians have said they will refuse to meet him out of protest at the Jerusalem decision. 

Mr Pence was supposed to arrive in Israel on Sunday but the trip has been delayed as the White House looks to secure votes for its tax cuts bill ahead of Christmas. 

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