Israel Temporarily Closes Border Crossing into Gaza Strip

Israel’s Defense Ministry recently announced that it was suspending fuel deliveries to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom border crossing. The shutdown will only last until Sunday, and Israeli officials stressed that the delivery of food and medical supplies would not be affected. Israel will further reduce Gaza’s fishing area off the coast from six miles to three as a means of putting additional constraint on Hamas.

The new measures are a result of a series of arson attacks launched by Hamas into Israeli territory. Since the latest wave of Hamas-backed protests began on March 30^th, operatives have adopted a new tactic of sending incendiary kites and balloons into Israeli territory. This rudimentary strategy involves attaching burning coal embers or even explosive devices to kites to attack Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and set agricultural fields on fire. Officials estimate close to 2,500 acres of forest and farmland have been burned.

Hamas is also seeking ways to expand this campaign; the group is planning to mount explosives to unmanned aerial drones with Iranian support. On Monday, workers from Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority discovered a dead falcon hanging from a tree attached to incendiary material. The falcon wore a harness, leading Israeli officials to conclude that it was sent intentionally to cause a fire.

After Hamas fired 200 rockets into Israel on Saturday, the IDF conducted strikes on several tunnels, a training facility, and other significant terror sites in Gaza. The next day, the United Nations and Egypt brokered a ceasefire in which Israel asked Hamas to cease all aforementioned terror activities. Hamas agreed to a gradual ceasefire but will continue launching fire kites despite “begging” Israel to end the counter strikes. Hamas leadership is reportedly afraid that Palestinians would view the complete cessation of terror activities as surrender to Israel.

Hamas and its supporters justify these attacks because of what they consider Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. Hamas said in a statement that it considers the IDF’s actions against Gaza a crime against humanity that warrants dangerous repercussions against Israel.

However, Israel enacts these measures to provide security for IDF personnel. Hamas has a long history of using the Kerem Shalom border crossing to export explosives into Israel. Earlier this year, Israel intercepted deadly chemicals hidden among boxes of medical supplies. These events are further evidence that Hamas has devoted far more capital into destroying Israel than in building Gaza.

Escalating attacks have prompted the IDF to respond more aggressively. The Israelis use their own drones to intercept incendiary materials and border guards have had to resort to targeting kite flyers by shooting near them. Israel has also conducted airstrikes on drone storage facilities and Hamas-linked individuals with drone-making expertise.

Kerem Shalom has been shut down by Israel several times before. Palestinians have targeted goods being shipped across the border numerous times and have even conducted attacks directly on the crossing. Among the goods that were targeted were gas and building supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis they blame on Israel.

IDF officials have insisted they do not want war in Gaza over the kites and rocket attacks, but according to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the IDF is “prepared for any mission” and will intensify its response against Hamas’ “relentless terrorism.”