Israel temporarily reopens key Gaza crossing for urgent aid

Israeli army on Sunday temporarily reopened the Karni goods crossing on the Gaza-Israel border to let in humanitarian aid following one-week-long closure, Palestinian security sources said.

"The Israeli army has reopened Karni crossing at noon and allowed goods to get through into the Gaza Strip," the sources said.

The Karni crossing, Gaza's main cargo terminal, has been closed along with other crossings since June 25 when Palestinian militants mounted a deadly attack on an Israeli army post near the Gaza border, killing two Israeli soldiers and kidnapping a third.

During the past few days, the only power plant in the Gaza Strip and main water and electricity supply lines were destroyed in Israeli air raids in a bid to free the abducted Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that daily necessities and fuel are running out in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli army continues its operation and shuts down Gaza border terminals.

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided on Saturday to reopen the Karni goods crossing, allowing 150 trucks carrying staple foodstuff and medicine to pass through Karni every day for four days starting from Sunday.

In addition, the minister also ordered to open a key gas depot to ease the severe fuel shortage in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians, stuck in Egypt, have appealed to the international community and Arab nations to urge Israel to reopen Rafah terminal on Gaza-Egypt border, which was closed like other crossings.

Palestinian sources at the Rafah crossing said they have been holding urgent contacts with European Union (EU) monitors to end the crisis and hardship of the people stuck on the other side of the crossing.

Palestinians are not allowed to pass the crossing without the presence of the EU monitors. However, Israel kept the monitors away from the crossing owing to security warnings.

Source: Xinhua