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Israel keeps pedestrian crossing with Gaza closed after three rocket attacks

The Erez crossing is the only border crossing to Gaza managed by Israel

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A police officer stands guard at the Palestinian Authority (PA) side of the Erez Crossing in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, on April 23, 2022. - Israel said it will close its only crossing from the Gaza Strip for workers tomorrow in response to overnight rocket fire, stopping short of conducting retaliatory strikes in an apparent bid to ease tensions. (Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli government has announced the temporary closure of Gaza's only pedestrian crossing after a series of rockets were fired into southern Israel.

Israeli officials said that the Erez crossing would remain shut this Sunday after it was due to reopen following the end of the Pesach holiday in Israel. Crossings in both the West Bank and Gaza are routinely shut during Jewish holidays.

The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a statement: “Following the rockets that were fired toward Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip last night [Friday], it was decided that crossings into Israel for Gazan merchants and workers through the Erez Crossing will not be permitted this upcoming Sunday.”

Three rockets were fired from Gaza on Friday night, with one landing in a field outside Sderot, one falling short and landing in the northern Gaza strip and one landing in a field just across the border with Israel.


Five rockets have been fired from Gaza in the last week, ending a nearly four-month period of quiet, with one missile being intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome system on Monday and two others landing in Israel on Wednesday and Thursday.

Israeli Minister of Defence Benny Gantz said that any rocket attacks would be met with a "harsh response" as the Israeli airforce announced it was targeting Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip.

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