Contrary to its usual practice, in response to a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on the night of April 22, Israel decided not to attack Hamas targets in Gaza by means of fighter planes, instead closing the Erez crossing to Palestinian workers entering Israel April 24. In the same breath, the Israel Defense Forces clarified that the crossing would reopen “depending on an assessment of the situation.” Israel was evidently hoping that preventing 12,000 workers from entering Israel would pressure Hamas to take action against the restive Islamic Jihad militants who were apparently behind the rocket fire.
Not everyone within the security establishment agreed with the decision to close the Erez crossing.