Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza reopened after 10 years

The Israeli government declares that "the decision was made to facilitate the work of Palestinian importers and thus help the economy of the Gaza Strip".

Gaza (AsiaNews / Agencies) -  After almost 10 years Israel has reopened the Erez crossing with Gaza (see photo). Since yesterday, trucks, cars and people can once again pass from Israel to the Gaza Strip.

The Erez crossing was closed in 2007 meaning all transport had to pass through the southern Kerem Shalom crossing. The resulting traffic of hundreds of trucks and cars every day through the area had raised the complaints of the inhabitants of the Israeli towns. In May, the then Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon announced the reopening of the Erez to allow a greater flow of goods into Gaza and reduce congestion in Kerem Shalom.

A spokesman for the COGAT, the section of the Ministry of Defense responsible for the implementation of government policies in the Palestinian territories, in confirming the passage of vehicles through the Erez crossing, said that "the decision was made to facilitate the work of Palestinian importers and thus help the economy of the Gaza Strip".

An association of Palestinian vehicle owners said 110 trucks have arrived through Erez.

• Israel
• Palestine
• Erez crossing
• Gaza strip
• economy