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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas: Israeli closure of Gaza border crossings violates truce |
| 2008-07-02 |
| (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement slammed Israel on Tuesday for closing all Gaza border crossings until a further notice, saying it is a violation of an Egyptian-brokered truce agreement. 'The closure of the crossing points is a violation of the truce and it is in fact obstruct the implementation the truce agreement,' Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman told reporters in Gaza. Israel on Tuesday closed down all Gaza crossing points after unknown militants fired one homemade rocket at the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Monday. No damages or injuries were reported. The truce between Israel and Gaza militant groups came into effect on June 19, under which Israel promises to stop attacks on Gaza and ease the blockade in exchange for stopping homemade rockets attacks on southern Israel. Barhoum said Hamas and other Palestinian factions would study the current development and Israeli violations of the truce and then would evaluate the truce agreement. The closure of the crossings 'is an interpretation of earlier statements made by Israeli foreign ministry spokeswoman saying that opening the crossings is linked to releasing captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinian medics said that a Palestinian woman was shot and moderately wounded by Israeli troops gunfire east of the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported that the Jewish state has informed Hamas that Israeli soldiers would open fire at any Palestinian approaching the border area between Gaza Strip and Israel. Palestinian witnesses said the woman, a farmer, was going to work at her farm near the border. |
| Posted by:Fred |