Israel closes Gaza border crossing damaged by Palestinians

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

 

FILE PHOTO: Road sign pointing to the directions of border crossings, positioned next to the entrance of the Kerem Shalom border crossing terminal, Israel January 16, 2018. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

 

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel closed a main border crossing with the Gaza Strip and destroyed a Hamas militant tunnel on Saturday, a day after renewed violence between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces on the edge of the coastal enclave.

 

Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators had broken into the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom terminal, the main conduit for goods in and out of the territory, on Friday. They set alight a pipeline that delivers gas from Israel, torched a conveyor belt and damaged a fuel pipe.

 

"The crossing will remain closed until the damage caused by the riots are repaired and will reopen in accordance with a situation assessment," the Israeli military said.

 

It will be opened for humanitarian cases only in the meantime, it said.

 

Later on Saturday, Israeli war planes destroyed an underground attack tunnel near the border that was being built by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, to help militants cross into Israel, the military said.

 

The tunnel had reached just a few meters from the border, adjacent to Israeli communities, the military said.

 

"It was approximately one kilometre long. It was dug over a number of months and we have been following it for a number of weeks," spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said.

 

Israel says it has destroyed several cross-border militant tunnels in recent months. Palestinian gunmen used tunnels to blindside Israeli forces during the 2014 Gaza war.

 

EMBASSY TO OPEN

 

More than two million people are packed into the narrow Gaza Strip, where poverty and unemployment rates are high. Kerem Shalom is one of three main Gaza border crossings with Israel and Egypt, but it is where most goods pass through daily.

 

The incursion into Kerem Shalom took place during a weekly mass protest in which thousands of Palestinians gathered along the Israel-Gaza border.

 

Palestinian health officials said a man was killed by Israeli fire on Friday and that a 15-year-old boy who was shot died from his wounds on Saturday. The Israeli military said the crowd had grown violent and that troops were defending the border. (Full Story)

More than 40 Palestinians have been killed during six weeks of protests and tens of thousands of Gazans are expected at tented border encampments in the coming days.

 

It was unclear to some Gaza residents why the demonstrators chose to attack the terminal.

 

"I cannot find one good reason for what happened, what is the wisdom behind this?" said one gas station owner, who asked not to be identified.

 

"Some petrol stations have storage for maybe a day or two, so the crisis will begin by Monday or Tuesday should the crossing remained closed," he said.

 

The Palestinian National Committee said it was surprised by the "non-deliberate and unfortunate incident" at Kerem Shalom and called on Palestinians to preserve the crossings.

 

Gaza is run by Hamas, which Israel and the West designate a terrorist organization. Citing security concerns, Israel maintains tight control over its land and sea borders. Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza.

 

The border protests are building to a climax on May 15, the day Palestinians call the "Nakba" or "Catastrophe", marking the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the conflict surrounding the creation of Israel in 1948.

 

They take place at a time of growing frustration over the prospects for an independent Palestinian state. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories have expanded.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last year to recognise disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the U.S. Embassy there further fuelled Palestinian anger. The new embassy is due to open on Monday.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-13

 

The dufuses burns the very gas lines that Israel supply gas to them, burn and loot items that actually they were suppose to get and in the end, they will have to go without and pay for the damages, really clever people... 

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

The dufuses burns the very gas lines that Israel supply gas to them, burn and loot items that actually they were suppose to get and in the end, they will have to go without and pay for the damages, really clever people... 

At least they didn't get shot with exploding bullets for this episode of protesting against their oppressive occupiers.

They obviously had their reasons for  doing this and I am sure that those wonderful Israelis supply the gas 24 hours a day for very little cost to the Palestinians, just like they do with the electricity etc.

31 minutes ago, Elfin said:

At least they didn't get shot with exploding bullets for this episode of protesting against their oppressive occupiers.

They obviously had their reasons for  doing this and I am sure that those wonderful Israelis supply the gas 24 hours a day for very little cost to the Palestinians, just like they do with the electricity etc.

Israel does not "occupy" Gaza. The land that the arabs  attacked is uncontested.

 

What are the obvious reasons for the destruction of their energy supply infrastructure? Do share, or  are  you just going to  blame Israel because  you know that this was just a senseless, stupid act, typical of the Hamas regime?

 

The pathetic aspect of this is that you are absolutely clueless as to the supply of energy to Gaza. There is an existing  agreement that sets the price of the gas, when and if gas is sold. However, much of it has been provided at no charge or below market cost. Turkey and Qatar were responsible for energy swaps that had the gas provided. Gas comes in from Egypt too. Compounding your ignorance is that you assume that Israel sells  electricity to Gaza. It does not. The Gaza Power Generation Company (GPGC), is a monopoly that uses diesel and gas  that is purchased and transported into the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank. The PA sets the purchase price for Gaza.  The GPGC purchases electricity from the Israeli Electricity Company as well as from the Egyptian  government. The rate charged by Israel is not inflated.  Nothing stops Egypt from exporting more gas or selling more electricity to Gaza.

 

Are you even aware that the Palestinian Authority recently signed a 15-year, US $775 million contract with the Israel that transfers control of the electricity distribution system for PA administered territory to the PA  and requires the building of four new power plants. Are you even aware that Jordan supplies the electricity for the PA Jericho region and that once the gas fields governed by the Jordan-Israel MOU come online, that Jordan will supply more of the electricity to the PA. Gaza was not included in the agreement because the PA left them out, Egypt doesn't want to supply the gas or electricity needed and the Jordanians are not interested.

 

So yes, please do share what the obvious reasons were.  Here' I will make it simpler for you;  You hate Israel and blame Israel because you hate Israel.

 

 

While Israel 

34 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Israel does not "occupy" Gaza.

Israel does however occupy the airspace above Gaza, blockades the port and does daily incursions into Gaza by the IDF. Many of the Gazans have had their lands and homes occupied in the West Bank.

According to the UN OCHA: "..... the destruction of fuel storage tanks by an Israeli strike in July 2014; and Israeli restrictions on imports of spare parts and equipment, citing security concerns. In April 2017 the GPP shut down completely after exhausting its fuel reserves. It resumed partial operations in late June with fuel purchased from Egypt. Gaza also relies on the purchase of electricity from Israel and Egypt."

And

" In recent years, the electricity deficit has required a rationing system entailing regular rolling blackouts of 12-16 hours per day, occasionally increasing to up to 22 hours. This has had a direct impact on the delivery of services, including health, water and sanitation, and education. To prevent the collapse of essential services, the UN is coordinating the distribution of emergency fuel to 186 critical facilities. "https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-s-energy-crisis

 

Israel has developed into a rogue state, a failed experiment and the hub of double standards. Your last sentence GK has a more than a hint of truth in it.

5 hours ago, Elfin said:

While Israel 

Israel does however occupy the airspace above Gaza, blockades the port and does daily incursions into Gaza by the IDF. Many of the Gazans have had their lands and homes occupied in the West Bank.

According to the UN OCHA: "..... the destruction of fuel storage tanks by an Israeli strike in July 2014; and Israeli restrictions on imports of spare parts and equipment, citing security concerns. In April 2017 the GPP shut down completely after exhausting its fuel reserves. It resumed partial operations in late June with fuel purchased from Egypt. Gaza also relies on the purchase of electricity from Israel and Egypt."

And

" In recent years, the electricity deficit has required a rationing system entailing regular rolling blackouts of 12-16 hours per day, occasionally increasing to up to 22 hours. This has had a direct impact on the delivery of services, including health, water and sanitation, and education. To prevent the collapse of essential services, the UN is coordinating the distribution of emergency fuel to 186 critical facilities. "https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-s-energy-crisis

 

Israel has developed into a rogue state, a failed experiment and the hub of double standards. Your last sentence GK has a more than a hint of truth in it.

 

You nicely managed to leave out the one sentence (linking between those two bits quoted), which goes against your narrative:

 

"In May 2017, the Ramallah-based Palestinian government decided to cut its payments for electricity provided to Gaza by Israel. As a result, Israel reduced its supply by 40 per cent in late June."

 

The energy issues Gazans currently face are mostly related to power struggles between Fatah and the Hamas.

 

As for the usual rogue etc. nonsense, do tell - is Israel internationally shunned? Boycotted? Under a sanctions regime? Yeah...thought so.

 

 

Edited May 13, 20188 yr by Morch

6 hours ago, Elfin said:

At least they didn't get shot with exploding bullets for this episode of protesting against their oppressive occupiers.

They obviously had their reasons for  doing this and I am sure that those wonderful Israelis supply the gas 24 hours a day for very little cost to the Palestinians, just like they do with the electricity etc.

 

"They obviously had their reasons for  doing this..."

 

Do tell.

16 hours ago, Elfin said:

At least they didn't get shot with exploding bullets for this episode of protesting against their oppressive occupiers.

They obviously had their reasons for  doing this and I am sure that those wonderful Israelis supply the gas 24 hours a day for very little cost to the Palestinians, just like they do with the electricity etc.

As said by others you hate Israel and do tell the obvious reasons.

Jew hater!

14 hours ago, bandito said:

As said by others you hate Israel and do tell the obvious reasons.

Jew hater!

Thanks Bandito!

It was obviously a cry for help and attention, but they will never confirm or deny this with me :)

25 dead and 900 injured. 

 

The thing that still still gets me is that the Jews ( not just the zionists) having been appallingly oppressed and abused over such a long time, can't help their beleaguered neighbours. What does Yahweh have to say about this?

 

Was turn the other cheek New or Old Testament?

 

Well I've looked it up. Sermon on the Mount so New Testament though I'm no expert. So it seems eye for an eye must be the policy.

 

Very sad

Edited May 14, 20188 yr by Grouse

17 minutes ago, Grouse said:

25 dead and 900 injured. 

 

The thing that still still gets me is that the Jews ( not just the zionists) having been appallingly oppressed and abused over such a long time, can't help their beleaguered neighbours. What does Yahweh have to say about this?

 

Was turn the other cheek New or Old Testament?

 

Well I've looked it up. Sermon on the Mount so New Testament though I'm no expert. So it seems eye for an eye must be the policy.

 

Very sad

Sorry, it's now 37 Palestinians dead

 

Who cares?

1 minute ago, Grouse said:

Sorry, it's now 37 Palestinians dead

 

Who cares?

 

The Hamas doesn't, obviously.

I expect the hypocrite Erdogan to very harshly criticise Israel, possibly using inflammatory language.

 

Of course, time and again, he has shown no hesitation to commit horrible acts against the Kurds (both in Turkey and in Syria), and also against the secularists/leftists within Turkey.

 

The outside world sadly does nothing concrete about the human rights violations committed repeatedly by these two countries_Israel and Turkey. It's time to start considering sanctions against them.

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

Sorry, it's now 37 Palestinians dead

 

Who cares?

Now 42 dead and 1900 injured

59 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

The Hamas doesn't, obviously.

Lame

 

1 minute ago, Grouse said:

Now 42 dead and 1900 injured

 

Yeah...and their leaders are egging them on. Go figure. By the way, the OP is about them protestors burning up the very same facilities that serve their needs. Go figure that too.

Take Hamas out of the equation and things could possibly improve?

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

21 minutes ago, JemJem said:

I expect the hypocrite Erdogan to very harshly criticise Israel, possibly using inflammatory language.

 

Of course, time and again, he has shown no hesitation to commit horrible acts against the Kurds (both in Turkey and in Syria), and also against the secularists/leftists within Turkey.

 

The outside world sadly does nothing concrete about the human rights violations committed repeatedly by these two countries_Israel and Turkey. It's time to start considering sanctions against them.

 

Countries are not obligated to let tens of thousands of violent hostiles into their territory.

1 minute ago, malagateddy said:

Take Hamas out of the equation and things could possibly improve?

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

As an armed outfit, or as a political party rejecting compromise and peace - yes. Other than that, they aren't better or worse than the Fatah. Perhaps, even, on a personal level, easier to deal with.

6 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Lame

 

 

Not at all.

 

The Hamas faces a crisis brought about by its inability to competently rule the Gaza Strip. Anything that diverts public attention to other matters serves. If the protests were peaceful, and there weren't no casualties - there would be less headlines, and people would wake up to yet another day of living under the failed Hamas rule. As it is, there's a handy default target to work with. Some fellow Palestinians sacrificed for the cause is part and parcel of that.

 

Several Hamas leaders were invited for meetings with Egyptian officials in recent days. They were asked to calm things down some, and in return, the border passes with Egypt will be opened. They declined. What does that tell you about their quality as the leaders of their people?

 

 

16 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Yeah...and their leaders are egging them on. Go figure. By the way, the OP is about them protestors burning up the very same facilities that serve their needs. Go figure that too.

What does "go figure" actually mean? Please use English that we can all understand

5 minutes ago, Grouse said:

What does "go figure" actually mean? Please use English that we can all understand

 

Lame.

 

On 14.05.2018 at 5:53 PM, Morch said:

 

Countries are not obligated to let tens of thousands of violent hostiles into their territory.

Oh, come on. There always seems to be an excuse to commit atrocities against civilians by some states. Israel and Turkey are 'perfect examples' to that. You cannot deny that the majority of Palestinians and Kurds killed by these states respectively were innocent civilians.

 

And, especially recently, these two countries have always managed to get away with these acts.

 

Israel has got the strong backing of the US and has got a powerful lobby in many countries. As for Turkey, there is the NATO membership factor, and since a few years ago, Erdogan has, sadly successfully, been using the 'refugee  card' against the EU.

Edited May 15, 20188 yr by JemJem

6 hours ago, JemJem said:

Oh, come on. There always seems to be an excuse to commit atrocities against civilians by some states. Israel and Turkey are 'perfect examples' to that. You cannot deny that the majority of Palestinians and Kurds killed by these states respectively were innocent civilians.

 

And, especially recently, these two countries have always managed to get away with these acts.

 

Israel has got the strong backing of the US and has got a powerful lobby in many countries. As for Turkey, there is the NATO membership factor, and since a few years ago, Erdogan has, sadly successfully, been using the 'refugee  card' against the EU.

 

Let's try again - do you think thousands (or tens of thousands) hostile Palestinians breaching the fence would have ended up in less casualties? Do you consider the Hamas leadership exempt of any responsibility, regardless of its ongoing calls and incitement, placing it's own people in harm's way?

 

As for your "cannot deny" comment - most such long standing conflict ultimately sees more civilian casualties. That's true for both sides. Or, to make it easier to digest, most Israelis killed by Palestinians were civilians as well. And to head off expected responses, it doesn't mean any instance of a long standing conflict will reflect that.

 

I think that it is yourself, and others, who are in denial as to the threat posed by a violent Palestinian mob potentially crossing over to Israel.

A flaming post has been removed

11 hours ago, Morch said:

 

Let's try again - do you think thousands (or tens of thousands) hostile Palestinians breaching the fence would have ended up in less casualties? Do you consider the Hamas leadership exempt of any responsibility, regardless of its ongoing calls and incitement, placing it's own people in harm's way?

 

As for your "cannot deny" comment - most such long standing conflict ultimately sees more civilian casualties. That's true for both sides. Or, to make it easier to digest, most Israelis killed by Palestinians were civilians as well. And to head off expected responses, it doesn't mean any instance of a long standing conflict will reflect that.

 

I think that it is yourself, and others, who are in denial as to the threat posed by a violent Palestinian mob potentially crossing over to Israel.

 

I am fiercely anti-Hamas (you should know that by now, I feel), and I know that they are to blame too. 

 

But, Israel (and Turkey, in the case of their dealing with the Kurds) should and could have shown restraint in most cases, including in this case. Anyway, we agree to disagree on this, I think. So, I shall stop commenting in this thread, and write some other stuff in another related (sort of 'main thread' on this issue) thread :)