IDF declares closed military zone at Nitzana Crossing amid protests against Gaza aid

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

As Israelis protest at the Nitzana Border Crossing with Egypt, preventing aid destined for Gaza from entering Israel to be checked by authorities, the IDF announces a closed military zone in the area.

The IDF says the chief of Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, signed the order last night.

The order means it will be illegal for civilians to be in the area of the crossing, as well as the nearby Route 211.

Activists, including the families of some of the Gaza hostages, had blocked the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza crossing for several days to prevent humanitarian aid from entering the Strip. The protests prompted the IDF to declare the Kerem Shalom crossing a closed military zone. Following that order, protesters moved to block Nitzana Crossing.

At Nitzana, aid enters Israel from Egypt to be checked, before it is sent back to Egypt to enter Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

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