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Israel keeps Gaza crossings closed on Sunday

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-14 17:29

GAZA -- Israeli authorities decided not to open cargo crossing points into Gaza on Sunday, citing security concerns after recording rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli communities.

Islamic demonstrators shout anti-Israel slogans during a protest against the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip in Amman December 5, 2008. [Agencies]

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Late on Saturday, two home-made rockets and three mortar shells were fired at Israeli posts beyond Gaza borders, Israeli sources said. No Palestinian group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ra'ed Fatouh, a Palestinian official, said Israel told his committee, which liaises the flow of cargo into Gaza, that it will close Kerem Shalom and Karni crossings which were supposed to be open before several trucks carrying food supplies.

The closure of the crossings Sunday also came as Hamas celebrates its 21st anniversary in a huge rally in Gaza city.

Israel opens the crossings from time to time to allow limited convoys of aid in. The procedure has been in place since early November after a ceasefire between Hamas, which controls Gaza Strip, and Israel was rocked by a resumption of violence.

The Egyptian-brokered six-month ceasefire is to expire on December 19 with Palestinian armed groups still firing rockets into Israel and the Jewish state responding by keeping the territory sealed off and carrying out military raids.