Israeli authorities re-opened a commercial border crossing with the
Gaza Strip Sunday following an end to Palestinian rocket attacks on
southern Israel.
An Israeli military spokesman said Israel was
allowing about 80 truckloads of goods to enter Gaza Sunday through the
Sufa crossing.
Israeli authorities closed Sufa and other
crossings on Wednesday, a day after Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza
fired several rockets at Israel.
The rocket salvo strained an Egyptian-brokered truce between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers that took effect on June 19.
Another
Gaza militant faction, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades fired a rocket into
Israel on Thursday. Hamas police arrested the group's spokesman, Abu
Qusai Sunday after Hamas warned it would take action against anyone who
breaks the truce.
In another development, Israeli troops shot
and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank town of Tubas
early Sunday. Israel's military said the Palestinian had attacked an
Israeli patrol with firebombs.
Israel re-opened its Nahal Oz
fuel terminal with Gaza on Friday, allowing fuel to reach the
territory's sole power station. Israeli officials have not said when
they will re-open a second commercial crossing with Gaza, known as
Karni.
Israel agreed to gradually permit more commercial trucks
to enter Gaza under the terms of the cease-fire. Israel allowed about
60 trucks a day to pass through Sufa before the truce.
Islamic
Jihad said its rocket attack on Israel was in retaliation for Israeli
troops killing one of its commanders in the West Bank, which is not
covered by the truce.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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