IDF closes Gaza crossing after intel of terror attack received

The IDF on Thursday afternoon closed the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Gaza Strip, Israel Radio reported, due to intelligence received that terror organizations were planning an attack in the area.

 

Published 11.13.08, 09:15AM

A shipment of supplies had been scheduled for transfer Thursday afternoon and approved by Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

 

UN official Chris Gunness said Israel was holding up planned food aid shipments to Gaza, and that this meant the UN Relief and Works Agency would not be able to deliver food to 750,000 Gaza residents beginning on Friday.

 

Hamas officials said that the activity of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip would be suspended on Thursday evening due to insufficient fuel supplies, Army Radio reported.

 

Hamas also criticized Israel for not allowing French diplomats to enter the Gaza Strip in order to report on the humanitarian situation there. "Israel is trying to prevent the world from seeing the real situation in Gaza," they reportedly said.

 

IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said the crossings were shut because of rockets and mortars that Palestinian terrorists fired at Israel early Thursday. Five mortar shells fired from the Strip landed in open areas in the Eshkol region, though no casualties or damage were reported in the attack.

 

The rocket fire came in response to an IDF operation in which troops thwarted an attempt by Palestinian gunmen to plant an explosive device along the Gaza border on Wednesday.

 

Amidst the continued clashes with Palestinian gunmen, and ongoing rocket attacks, the IDF delayed the replacement of its top Gaza commander, a military official said on Thursday.

 

Brig.-Gen. Moshe Tamir was scheduled to be replaced Friday, but an IDF official said that because of the tension on the border, his term has been extended until further notice. He spoke on condition of anonymity as no official announcement has been made.