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Israel closes Gaza Strip crossing over continuing rocket fire

The Israeli authorities have closed a border crossing with Gaza as rockets rain down and dozens of incendiary balloons float from the Strip toward Israel's southern communities.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

Israel has closed the Gaza Strip's Erez crossing point. Following rocket fire early this morning toward Israel’s southern communities, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj.-Gen. Rassan Alian announced the immediate closure until further notice, except for humanitarian and exceptional cases.

In a Facebook post Alian noted, "During the past week, we have all seen the violence breaking out in the Judea and Samaria [West Bank] area, the Gaza Strip, and even Jerusalem. Some of the participants believe sincerely that they are protecting the holy sites. But in fact, they are defiling them during the blessed month of Ramadan and on Qadr Night (Laylat al-Qadr). The participants are being cynically incited and exploited by those who are trying to escalate and inflame the situation, using violent and inciteful rhetoric on social and mainstream media."

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