Israel closes Gaza border crossings after rocket fire

Israel has closed two border crossings with Gaza, the army said on Sunday, after a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave struck its territory. The Erez and Kerem Shalom checkpoints would only allow humanitarian aid to pass through, the Israeli army said. The measure was taken after a rocket fired from Gaza hit an open field in the Eshkol area of southern Israel on Friday, without causing any casualties or damage.

The crossing points for people and goods, Erez and Kerem Shalom, have been closed until further notice except for humanitarian aid.

Israeli army spokeswoman

The missile was the first to strike Israeli territory since September 16, and the second since the end of the Jewish state’s devastating 50-day war on Gaza militants. A ceasefire agreed between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers took effect on August 26, ending a conflict that claimed 2,140 Palestinian lives and 73 on the Israeli side, most of them from the army.

Middle East Gaza