by Maayana MiskinIDF officials left all crossings between Gaza and the western Negev closed on Thursday despite earlier plans to open the crossings and allow fuel and other supplies to pass through. The change of plans was attributed to warnings of a planned terrorist attack. Earlier in the day, defense officials had expressed determination to continue with the transfer despite several rocket attacks on western Negev towns.
According to Israel Radio, terrorists planned to attack the Kerem Shalom crossing. The crossing and surrounding area have been the site of several attacks, including the 2006 attack in which Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and two other soldiers were killed.
Hamas officials in Gaza complained that the delay in fuel transfer could force Gaza's power station to shut down. The station provides approximately 25 percent of Gaza's power, with the rest supplied by Israel and Egypt.
United Nations officials warned that the delay could impact the UN food distribution program in Gaza. The program provides food to approximately 750,000 people, more than half of Gaza's population, they said. UN officials have issued similar warnings several times in the past year as terrorist attacks force Gaza crossings to be closed for days at a time.
Along with delaying the opening of the crossings, Israel kept 20 European Union consul generals from entering Gaza via Israeli crossings. IDF officials said the group had been told it would not be allowed to enter Gaza, but attempted to do so anyway. The crossings are open only to those providing humanitarian aid, the officials said.
Ceasefire Still On, Israel Says
Despite dozens of rocket attacks in the past week and multiple clashes between IDF soldiers and Gaza terrorists, Israeli defense officials said Thursday that Israel's ceasefire with Hamas is still in effect. “It is faltering, but it is not over,” said Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai.
The temporary ceasefire was to last for six months, and to end in January. Hamas has already issued demands regarding the continuation of the ceasefire, and says it will only maintain the ceasefire if the IDF agrees to refrain from counterterrorist operations in Judea and Samaria as well as Gaza.