Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel’s main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday, wounding at least 10 Israelis and prompting officials to close the terminal indefinitely. The armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had targeted Israeli soldiers in the area.
The attack has dealt a serious blow to the ongoing ceasefire efforts, which have been ongoing for months without a breakthrough. Both sides have blamed each other for the failure to reach an agreement, with Israel insisting that it cannot accept a temporary ceasefire that would allow Hamas to regroup and rearm.
The Israeli military reported that 10 projectiles were fired at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The crossing was immediately closed, halting aid deliveries from there into hard-hit Gaza, which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, medicine, and other essential items.
Key aid crossing into Gaza closed after rocket attack (Credits: The Japan Times)
The attack has threatened to complicate the ongoing ceasefire talks in Egypt, where Egyptian and Hamas officials have been negotiating a deal to end the fighting. According to sources, the deal under discussion calls for an extended pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
However, the sides remain at odds over whether the deal would include an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Hamas has insisted that any ceasefire agreement must include a commitment to ending the war and lifting the blockade on Gaza, while Israel has refused to agree to these terms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced pressure from within his far-right coalition to press ahead with a military offensive in Gaza, despite international calls for restraint.
The US has also expressed reluctance to back a military operation that could cause remarkable civilian casualties, and has insisted on seeing a plan to protect displaced Palestinians first. The Israeli government faces mounting pressure at home, with many Israelis demanding an end to the war and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
IDF shutters Kerem Shalom Crossing into Gaza (Credits: The Times of Israel)
The closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 1.4 million people have taken shelter after fleeing fighting in northern and central parts of the strip.
The United Nations has warned of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis if the fighting continues, with many Gazans facing severe shortages of food, water, and medicine.
The attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing has highlighted the fragility of the ceasefire talks and the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas. Despite months of negotiations, a breakthrough remains elusive, and the prospects for a lasting peace in the region appear increasingly remote.
