IDF confirms commercial goods won’t be allowed through Kerem Shalom

The Israeli military says it is closing the Kerem Shalom Crossing to all commercial goods into and out of the Gaza Strip in response to nonstop arson attacks from the coastal enclave that have burned thousands of acres of land in southern Israel.

The army says humanitarian aid, notably food and medicine, would still be allowed into Gaza, but will require special permission from the military liaison to the Palestinians, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon.

The announcement confirms comments made by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during faction meetings in the Knesset earlier in the day.

The military says the situation will persist so long as Palestinians continue to launch incendiary kites and balloons into Israel.

“If this phenomenon continues, these steps will continue and even get worse,” the army says.

In addition, the army says it is prematurely ending the temporary extension to the permitted Gaza fishing zone, which had allowed fisherman to sail up to nine miles from the coast in order to take advantage of the summer fishing season.

“The fishing zone will return to a range of six miles,” the army says.

The Israeli military accuses the Hamas terror group of encouraging Palestinians to launch incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza into Israel.

“The Hamas terrorist group is response for everything done in the Gaza Strip and for all the consequences of it. Hamas is dragging the residents of the Strip into the abyss,” the army says.

— Judah Ari Gross