Israel shuts down all terminals and passage around Gaza

The Israel Army has announced to close down all passages, crossings and terminals on the borders with the Gaza Strip and prevent people from going in or out until a further notice, a Palestinian general security spokesman said on Monday.

The spokesman said that the Israeli decision was officially informed to the Palestinian side, which warned that any Palestinian from approaching any terminal or crossing on the borders between Gaza and Israel.

The Israeli army has divided the Gaza Strip into three isolated areas and prevented Palestinians from having access inside the Gaza Strip or move from town to town, the spokesman added.

The Israeli tightened security measures came in reaction to an attack carried out by both Hamas and Fatah movements' armed wings.

The two groups said in a joint leafelt that they blew up a tunnel under an Israeli army post south of the central Gaza Strip town of Deir el Ballah and killed five Israeli soldiers. However, Israel denied the death toll, saying only one was killed and a dozen were injured.

Right after the attack, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians and wounded three others in western Khan Younis when the troops opened fire at al Namsawi neighborhood in the town.

Source: Xinhua