Hamas militants on Sunday attacked Israel’s main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, reportedly wounding several Israelis and prompting Israel to close the terminal.
The attack disrupted critical shipments of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza, and dealt a new blow to ongoing ceasefire efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
In another potential setback, Israel said it was shuttering the local offices of the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera news channel, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s latest negotiation demands and vowed to keep on fighting.
The Israeli military reported 10 projectiles had been launched at the Kerem Shalom crossing, the primary gateway for badly needed humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Hamas said it had been targeting Israeli soldiers in the area.
Israel’s Channel 12 TV channel said 10 people were wounded, three of those seriously.
The Israeli military said the crossing had been immediately closed, halting deliveries of aid into hard-hit Gaza. It was unclear how long the closure would remain in effect.
The incident comes at a time when Gaza is facing a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, medicine and other humanitarian items.
Cairo ceasefire talks stall
The attack also threatens to complicate the ongoing ceasefire talks in Egypt.
A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress” in the ceasefire talks.
However, Israel hasn’t sent a delegation to Cairo, and a senior Israeli official downplayed prospects for a full end to the war while emphasising Israel’s commitment to invading Rafah.
Egyptian and Hamas officials have said the deal consists of an extended pause in fighting in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
But 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.
Mr Netanyahu further lowered expectations on Sunday when he accused Hamas of making unacceptable demands.
While claiming that Israel has shown willingness to make concessions, he said: “Hamas has still held to its extreme positions, first and foremost the withdrawal of our forces from the [Gaza] strip, the conclusion of the war and leaving Hamas intact.”
“Israel will not agree to Hamas’s demands, which would mean surrender; it will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved,” he said.
Israel launched its war in response to Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7, which killed some 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.
The ensuing Israeli air and ground offensive has killed over 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, as well as displacing about 80 per cent of Gaza’s population and bringing about a humanitarian disaster.
AP