Israel Opens Cross-border Post Again In Gaza, Allows Palestinians To Pass After Two Weeks Of Closure

Erez's cross-border post on the Israeli-Palestinian border located in the Gaza Strip. (Wikimedia Commons/Zero0000)

JAKARTA - Israel reopened cross-border posts in Gaza on Thursday, allowing thousands of Palestinian workers to get their jobs in Israel and the West Bank, after nearly two weeks of closures sparked by violent protests along the border.

About 18,000 Gazans have permission from the Israeli government to work outside the blockaded enclave, providing cash injections of about $2 million per day for the region's economy.

The move comes amid increased international efforts by Egypt and the United Nations to ease tensions and prevent a new chapter of armed conflict in the enclave.

For about two weeks, protesters who threw stones and explosive devices confronted Israeli forces who retaliated with gunfire, killing at least one person and injuring dozens more.

Protests on Wednesday were not too intense, as was Israel's response. A Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts told Reuters the development occurred "at the request of the mediator to ease tensions"

Desperate to return to work, workers began flocking to the Palestinian side crossing as Israel made the announcement on Wednesday evening.

"We want to go to work and make a living for our children, because the situation has been too bad for us over the past two weeks," said Khaled Zurub, 57, who works in the construction sector in Israel.

Meanwhile, Cogat, Israel's Defense Ministry agency in coordination with the Palestinians, said security assessments would determine whether the border remained open.

As a sign of a marked easing of tensions, the so-called "Revolutionary Youth", which organized the protests in recent weeks, said in a statement they had halted demonstrations after receiving promises from mediators Israel would halt provocative actions in Jerusalem and in prison and alleviate Gaza blockade.

Separately, Hazem Qassem, Gaza's ruling Hamas spokesman, said Israel was constantly violating Gazans' basic right to freedom of movement, by repeatedly closing borders and blocking Gaza.

Israel blocks many goods from entering Gaza with Egypt's support, citing security concerns and also the right to limit exports.

It is known, according to IMF figures, per capita income in Gaza is only a quarter of the per capita income of Israeli-occupied Palestinians in the West Bank. Meanwhile, the World Bank said unemployment there was nearly 50 percent.