Israel temporarily re-opens Gaza's crossings

Israeli authorities temporarily re-opened Karm Abu Salem commercial terminal and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in southern and northern Gaza Strip after a week-long closure. Raed Fatouh, chairman of the Coordination Committee for the Entry of Goods, told MENA that 360 trucks laden with goods will be allowed into the coastal enclave today. He added that Karm Abu Salem terminal, the only commercial one in Gaza Strip, will be closed on Friday and Saturday as weekly vacations then on Sunday and Monday because of Israeli holidays. The terminal will be re-opened on Tuesday, he said, noting that the closure of the crossing for a whole week has caused a sharp shortage in cooking oil and some construction materials in the Strip. Karm Abu Salem terminal, the only portal to allow access of commodities to the Gaza Strip after Israel decided to indefinitely close Al Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza, was closed by Israel on Thursday after a number of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Sderot settlement.