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Hamas closes Gaza crossing
Published Monday 04/03/2013 (updated) 07/03/2013 16:53
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Hamas government in Gaza closed the Kerem Shalom crossing on Monday, despite the fact Israel had agreed to reopen it after a one week closure.

Israel closed the commercial crossing last Tuesday after a rocket was fired from Gaza toward Ashkelon in southern Israel, but agreed to reopen it Monday.

However, the border remained closed on the Palestinian side.

Officials in Gaza, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the issue, said the Hamas government in Gaza has fired the company that operates the terminal after a dispute over the collection of customs revenue.

The officials told Ma'an that Hamas wants to keep the taxes, which are usually paid to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Hamas has decided to appoint a new company to run the terminal, they said.

Truck drivers at Kerem Shalom told Ma'an that rivalries over control of the crossing were impeding their work, adding that they hoped the terminal would reopen soon.

Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Eitan Dangot has told PA officials that Israel considers Hamas' appointment of a new company to run Kerem Shalom a security risk, the Israeli news site Ynet reported Monday.

Israel cooperated with the previous contractor because he operated the crossing on behalf of the PA, Ynet reported, noting that Israel will not coordinate with Hamas.

Ynet said that Hamas was demanding a tax of 170 shekels (around $46) for each truck that enters Gaza, to make up for lost profits from tunnel revenue after Cairo cracked down on smuggling under the Egyptian border.

Erez crossing

Meanwhile, Hamas is imposing new restrictions at the Erez crossing, the only passenger terminal on the Israeli border.

The government in Gaza announced Wednesday that residents must seek permission from the Ministry of Interior to enter Israel via the Erez crossing.

Palestinians already needed a permit from Israel to cross Erez.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights criticized Hamas' decision.

"Freedom of movement is already severely restricted by Israel; travelers have to wait many hours before being allowed to pass through the crossing and they are subjected to humiliating treatment," PCHR said in a statement.

The Gaza-based group noted that Israeli authorities usually only granted Palestinians permits a few hours prior to their departure, and often the permits are only valid for one day.

"This makes it impossible for them to refer to the Ministry of Interior to obtain prior approval for their travel," PCHR said.
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1 ) ABE / USA
04/03/2013 18:32
Isn't this interesting!

2 ) Khaled / Palestine
04/03/2013 18:32
Shame on Hamas! Same as Israel's behavior!

3 ) Arnold / Canada
04/03/2013 20:03
Hamas is meddling in affairs to (1) make more money and (2) to make themselves more important.

4 ) Brian Cohen / Israel
04/03/2013 20:25
Time to admit the only way out is the 3 state solution. Hamas will never agree to elections. Hamas will never reconcile with Fatah. Hamas will never agree to give up power. Hamas will never agree to peace with Israel. Three states: Israel, Palestine, Gaza. Let's hope it's on Obama's schedule.

5 ) Oh those poor besieged and / collectively punished darlings.
04/03/2013 20:40
#2) Oh no Khaled! Its not at all the same. What it is, is an exposure of the BS claim that Gaza is under siege.

6 ) Colin Wright / USA
04/03/2013 21:58
To Arnold #3 'Hamas is meddling in affairs to (1) make more money and (2) to make themselves more important.' So you DON'T think Hamas runs Gaza, then? Maybe there should be a democratic election to decide all...oh wait.

7 ) Colin Wright / USA
04/03/2013 21:59
To Brian Cohen #4: 'Time to admit the only way out is the 3 state solution....' Why are the Palestinians going to want three states after all this is solved? I mean, if they WANT to, but...

8 ) Colin Wright / USA
04/03/2013 22:01
To Brian Cohen #4: 'Hamas will never agree to elections...' Hamas WON the elections, you fatuous Zionist.

9 ) Colin Wright / USA
04/03/2013 22:03
To Oh #5: ' What it is, is an exposure of the BS claim that Gaza is under siege.' Sure. Israel allows a free flow of goods in and out of Gaza. The Palestinians just like to dig tunnels, is all. You're as dishonest as a...Zionist.

10 ) Bemused / New Zealand
04/03/2013 22:06
Gaza is not only under siege, but also under ongoing very real threats to its security and survival. Every country under such a threat implements security measures, which are also enshrined in international law - the PCHR should read the various covenants and conventions more closely, especially the bits about derogable rights when national security is threatened, which the freedom of movement (and of public assembly, and of privacy and the dissemination of information) falls within.

11 ) Jason / USA
05/03/2013 20:02
To Colin Wright#9 And that will count for eternity?

12 ) maan / palestine
06/03/2013 13:23
enough bullshit
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